
sLz.T'&i 



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lASTOR'S MANUAL 



CONTAINING 



SCRIPTURAL READINGS, 



WATCHWORDS, 



Jfrrrms 0.f gjarriage, tU., tit. 






• 



PREPARED FOR THE SOCIETY. 






BOSTON : 

CONGREGATIONAL PUBLISHING SOCIETY 

1875. 



" 



<**$ 



Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, by 

The Congregational Publishing Society, 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



The Library 
of Congress 

washington 



Press of Rand, Avery, & Co., Boston. 



PKEFACE. 



Other manuals have been prepared, adapted 
to the usages of other denominations, and there- 
fore containing some things of no use to Congre- 
ss o . & 

gationalists. 

This manual is designed especially to meet the 
wants of our pastors, in reference to our forms 
and usages of pastoral duty ; and it is hoped that 
it will be acceptable to the Congregational minis- 
try in general, and especially to the younger 
brethren. Unto all, it is respectfully dedicated, 
with the humble prayer, that it may redound to 
the glory of God our Saviour, in the comfort and 
edification of the churches, and in the order of 
our worship. 



CONTENTS. 



I. SELECTIONS OF SCRIPTURE FOR: 

Lating of Corner-Stone 9 

Dedication of House of Worship 10 

Re-dedication 12 

Organization of a Chdrcii 14 

"Watch-words for New Members 17 

Ordination of a Minister, 1 23 

'«'■<« « n 24 

Funeral of a Minister 26 

" " Child, 1 28 

" n. 29 

" " Youth 30 

" of the Aged 32 

" " Christian, 1 34 

" " " H. . . 35 

" in General 37 

Afflictions, Sanctified 39 



CONTEXTS. 7 

in. ORDER OF EXERCISES. 

On the Sabbath 69 

On Laying a Corner-Stone TO 

And Procedure at the Organization of a Church . . 70 

At the Dedication of a Meeting-House 71 

Of Procedure at an Ordination on Installation . . .72 

Of the Public Service 73 

Rules of the General Association Congregational 

Churches of Massachusetts 73 

Hints on keeping a Church Register 82 



PASTOR'S MANUAL. 



The Laying of a Corner-Stone. 

And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they 
strengthened their hands for this good work. (Neb. ii. 18.) 

Surely, I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, 
nor go up into my bed ; I will not give sleep to mine eves, 
or slumber to mine eyelids, until I find out a place for 
the Lord, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob. AVe 
will go into his tabernacles : we will worship at his foot- 
stool. (Ps. cxxxii. 3-5, 7.) 

Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the 
house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glori- 
fied, saith the Lord. And the Lord stirred up the spirit 
of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, 
and the spirit of Josbua, the son of Josedech, the high- 
priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. 
And they came, and did work in the house of the Lord of 
Hosts, their God. (Hag. i. 8, 14.) 

And I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of 
Hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the 
Lord of Hosts. The glory of this latter house shall be 
greater than of the former, saith the Lord of Hosts : and 



10 PASTOR'S MANUAL. 

in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of Hosts. 
(Hag. ii. 7-9.) 

This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, 
Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the 
Lord of Hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain ? Before 
Zerubbabel, thou shalt become a plain : and he shall bring 
forth the headstone thereof, with shoutings, crying, Grace,, 
grace, unto it. (Zech. iv. 6, 7.) 

His foundation is in the holy mountains. (Ps. lxxxvii. 1.) 

Therefore, thus saith the Lord God, Behold I lay in 
Zion, for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious 
corner-stone, a sure foundation : he that believeth shall not 
make haste. Judgment also will I lay to the line, and 
righteousness to the plummet. (Isa. xxviii. 16, 17.) 

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, 
which is Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. iii. 11.) 

Now, therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, 
but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of 
God, and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and 
prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone ; 
in .whom all the building, fitly framed together, groweth 
unto a holy temple in the Lord. (Eph. ii. 19-21.) 



Dedication of a House of Worship. 

And Solomon determined to build a house for the name 
of the Lord. Behold, I build a house to the name of the 
Lord my God, to dedicate it to him. And the house which 
I build is great ; for great is our God above all gods. But 
who is able to build him a house, seeing the heaven and 
heaven of heavens cannot contain him? (2 Chron. ii. 1, 
4-6). — So was ended all the work that King Solomon 
made for the house of the Lord (1 Kings vii. 51). — And 



LAYING OF A CORNER-STONE. 11 

the king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before the 
Lord. So the king, and all the children of Israel, dedicated 
the house of the Lord (1 Kings viii. 62, 63). 

Holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, forever (Ps. 
xciii. 5). — But as for me, I will come into thy house in the 
multitude of thy mercy, and in thy fear will I worship 
toward thy holy temple (Ps. v. 7). 

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his 
courts with praise : be thankful unto him, and bless his 
name. For the Lord is good : his mercy is everlasting ; 
and his truth endureth to all generations. (Ps. c. 4, 5.) 

One thing have I desired of the Lord ; that will I seek 
after : that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the 
days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to 
inquire in his temple. (Ps. xxvii. 4.) 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days 
of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for- 
ever. (Ps. xxiii. 6.) 

We will not forsake the house of our God. (Xeh. x. 39.) 

I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the 
house of the Lord. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem : they 
shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, 
and prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and 
companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. 
Because of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek thy 
good. (Ps. exxii. 1, 6-9.) 

The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble : the name of 
the God of Jacob defend thee ; send thee help from the 
sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion. Remember all 
thy offerings, grant thee according to thine own heart, and 
fulfil all thy counsel. We will rejoice in thy salvation, and 
in the name of our God we will set up our banners ; the 
Lord fulfil all thy petitions. (Ps. xx. 1-5.) 



12 PASTOR'S MANUAL. 

How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts ! 
My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth, for the courts of the 
Lord ; my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. 
Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be 
still praising thee. For a clay in thy courts is better 
than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the 
house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.. 
For the Lord God is a sun and shield ; the Lord will give 
grace and glory; no good thing will he withhold from 
them that walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the 
man that trusteth in thee (Ps. lxxxiv. 1, 2, 4, 10-12). — 
Arise, O Lord, into thy rest; thou and the ark of thy 
-strength. Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness, 
and let thy saints shout for joy (Ps. cxxxii. 8, 9). 

And he [Jesus] came to Nazareth, where he had been 
brought up ; and, as his custom was, he went into the syn- 
agogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. 
(Luke iv. 16). — Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence 
my sanctuary : I am the Lord (Lev. xix. 30). 



Re-dedication of a Church. 

And it came to pass, after this, that Joash was minded to 
repair the house of the Lord. And he gathered together 
the priests and the Levites, and said to them, Go out unto 
the cities of Judah, and gather of all Israel money to repair 
the house of your God. And they made a proclamation 
through Judah and Jerusalem to bring in to the Lord the 
collection. And all the princes and all the people rejoiced, 
and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had made 
an end. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money 
in abundance. 



RE-DEDICATION OF A CHURCH. 13 

And the king and Jehoiada gave it to such as did the 
woi-k of the service of the house of the Lord, and 
hired masons and carpenters,, to repair the house of the 
Lord, and also such as wrought iron and brass to mend 
the house of the Lord. So the workmen wrought, and 
the work was perfected by them, and they set the house 
of God in his state, and strengthened it (2 Chron. xxiv. 
4, 5, 9-13). 

The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of 
Hosts (Hag. ii. 8). — Except the Lord build the house, 
they labor in vain that build it (Ps. cxxvii. 1). — The 
glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, 
saith the Lord of Hosts ; and in this place will I give 
peace, saith the Lord of Hosts. From this day will I 
bless you. (Hag. ii. 9, 19). — The glory of Lebanon 
shall come unto thee, the fir-tree, the pine-tree, and the 
box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary ; and 
I will make the place of my feet glorious (Is. Ix. 13). — 
They helped every one his neighbor ; and every one said to 
his brother, Be of good courage. So the carpenter encour- 
aged the goldsmith ; and he that smootheth with the hammer, 
him that smote the anvil ; and he fastened it with nails, that 
it should not be moved (Is. xli. 6, 7). — And they came, 
both men and women, as many as were willing-hearted ; and 
they brought the Lord's offering to the work of the taber- 
nacle of the congregation, and for all his service (Ex. 
xxxv. 22, 21). — It hath pleased them of Macedonia and 
Achaia to make a certain contribution (Rom. xv. 26). — 
Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, de- 
termined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in 
Juda>a (Acts xi. 29). — And the elders of the Jews builded ; 
and they prospered. And this house was finished. And the 
children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest 



14 PASTOR'S MANUAL. 

of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this 
house of God with joy (Ezra vi. 14-16). 

Now, therefore, arise, O Lord God, into thy resting-place, 
thou and the ark of thy strength : let thy priests, O Lord 
God, be clothed with salvation ; and let thy saints rejoice 
in goodness (2 Chron. vi. 41). — Now, my God, let, I beseech 
thee, thine eyes be open ; and let thine ears be attent unto 
the prayer that is made in this place (2 Chron. vi. 40). — 
What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, 
or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the 
plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands in this 
house, then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling-place (1 Kings 
viii. 38, 39). — The Lord our God be with us, as he was with 
our fathers : let him not leave us, nor forsake us, that he 
may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, 
and to keep his commandments (1 Kings viii. 57, 58). 



The Organization of a Church. 

Ba ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers ; for 
what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness ? 
and what communion hath light with darkness ? And what 
concord hath Christ with Belial ? Or what part hath he that 
believeth with an infidel ? And what agreement hath the tem- 
ple of God with idols ? For ye are the temple of the living 
God ; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in 
them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 
Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate, 
saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing ; and I will 
receive you. And I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be 
my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having, 
therefore, these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse our- 



ORGANIZATION OF A CHUECH. 15 

selves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting 
holiness in the fear of God (2 Cor. vi. 14-18, and vii. 1). 
— The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth and in thy heart ; 
that is, the word of faith which we preach : that if thou shalt 
confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in 
thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou 
shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto 
righteousness ; and with the mouth confession is made unto 
salvation. For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on 
him shall not be ashamed (Rom. x. 8-11). — Whosoever, 
therefore, shall confess me before men, him will I confess 
also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever 
shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my 
Father which is in heaven (Mitt. x. 32, 33). — Also I say 
unto you, whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall 
the Son of man also confess before the angels of God. But 
he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the 
angels of God (Luke xii. 8, 9). — Christ also loved the 
church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and 
cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he 
might present to himself a glorious church, not having spot 
or wrinkle or any such thing ; but that it should be holy, 
and without blemish (Eph. v. 25-27). — And hath put all 
things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all 
things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him 
that filleth all in all (Eph. i. 22, 23). — Christ is the head 
of the church : and he is the Saviour of the body. (Eph. v. 
23). — But be not ye called Rabbi ; for one is your Master, 
even Christ : and all ye are brethren. And call no man 
your father upon the earth ; for one is your Father, which is 
in heaven. Neither be ye called masters ; for one is your 
Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you 
shall be your servant (Matt, xxiii. 8-11). — Ye call me 



16 PASTOR'S MANUAL. 

Master and Lord : and ye say well ; for so I am (John 
xiii. 13). 

They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thither- 
ward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord in 
a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten (Jer. 1. 5). 
— Then they that gladly received his word were baptized : 
and the same day there were added unto them about three 
thousand souls. And the Lord added to the church daily 
such as should be saved (Acts ii. 41, 47). — Him that is 
weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations 
(Rom. xiv. 1). — Be kindly affectioned one to another with 
brotherly love ; in honor preferring one another (Rom. 
xii. 10). — Let brotherly love continue (Heb. xiii. 1). 

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to 
dwell together in unity! (Ps. cxxxiii. 1.) 

Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond 
of peace. (Eph. iv. 3.) 

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are 
spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness ; 
considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. (Gal. vi. 1.) 

Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go 
and tell him his fault between thee and him alone : if he 
shail hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he 
will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that 
in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be 
established. And, if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it 
unto the church ; but, if he neglect to hear the church, let 
him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican. (Matt, 
xviii. 15-17.) 

Fear not, little flock : for it is your Father's good pleas- 
ure to give you the kingdom. (Luke xii. 32.) 

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, immov- 
able, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much 



WATCHWORDS FOR NEW MEMBERS. 17 

as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 
(1 Cor. xv. 58.) 

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith 
unto the churches. (Rev. ii. 29.) 

Now, the God of peace, that brought again from the dead 
our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through 
the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in 
every good work to do his will, working in you that which 
is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ ; to whom 
be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Heb. xiii. 20, 21.) 



Watchwords for New Members of the Church, 
with Right Hand of Fellowship. 

[It is a practice in some churches, when members are re- 
ceived by profession, to give them the right hand of fellow- 
ship ; also some passage of Scripture, to keep in memory 
as a watchword to remind them of their vows. Where sev- 
eral persons are received at the same time, the passages se- 
lected may be written on slips of paper, to be read and 
given to each, with the right hand. These watchwords give 
the pastor themes for appropriate remarks when calling on 
those who have them.] 

1. Looking unto Jesus. (Heb. xii. 2.) 

2. Watch and pray. (Mark xiii. 33.) 

3. Rejoice in the Lord alway. (Phil. iv. 4.) 

4. Pray without ceasing. (1 Thess. v. 17.) 

5. Quench not the Spirit. (1 Thess. v. 19.) 

6. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ 
Jesus. (Phil. ii. 5.) 

7. Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children. 
(Eph. v. 1.) 



18 PASTOR'S MANUAL. 

8. Let us go on to perfection. (Heb. vi. 1.) 

9. Let us run with patience the race that is set before 
us. (Heb. xii. 1.) 

10. The Lord is my shepherd : I shall not want. (Ps. 
xxiii. 1.) 

11. Unto you, therefore, which believe, he is precious. 
(1 Pet. ii. 7.) 

12. By the grace of God I am what I am. (1 Cor. xv. 10.) 

13. So run that ye may obtain. (1 Cor. ix. 24.) 

14. Thou, God, seest me. (Gen. xvi. 13.) 

15. But thou, O Lord, knowest me. (Jer. xii. 3.) 

16. The Lord is thy keeper. (Ps. cxxi. 5.) 

1 7. I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living. 
(Ps. cxvi. 9.) 

18. Be not weary in well doing. (2 Thess. iii. 13.) 

19. Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom. xiii. 14.) 

20. Redeeming the time, because the days are evil 
(Eph. v. 16.) 

21. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without 
wavering. (Heb. x. 23.) 

22. He is faithful that promised. (Heb. x. 23.) 

23. For we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Cor. v. 7.) 

24. For the love of Christ constraineth us. (2 Cor. 
v. 14.) 

25. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life. 
(John iii. 36.) 

26. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give you a 
crown of life. (Rev. ii. 10.) 

27. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness 
in himself. (1 John v. 10.) 

28. Perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Cor. 
vii. 1.) 

29. Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ? (Acts ix. 6.) 



WATCHWORDS FOR NEW MEMBERS. 19 

30. Not slothful in business ; fervent in spirit ; serving 
the Lord. (Rom. xii. 11.) 

31. In whom Ave have redemption through his blood, even 
the forgiveness of sins. (Col. i. 14.) 

32. As ye have, therefore, received Christ Jesus the Lord, 
so walk ye in him. (Col. ii. 6.) 

33. Study to show thyself approved unto God. (2 Tim. 
ii. 15.) 

34. The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord. 
(Isa. xxix. 19.) 

35. Thou art my portion, O Lord. (Ps. cxix. 57.) 
3G. I have chosen the way of truth. (Ps. cxix. 30.) 

37. Truly, my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh 
my salvation. (Ps. lxii. 1.) 

38. For ye are bought with a price : therefore glorify God 
in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. (1 Cor. 
vi. 20.) 

3D. Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Zion : and unto 
thee shall the vow be perfoi-med. (Ps. lxv. 1.) 

40. My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath 
rejoiced in God my Saviour. (Luke i. 46, 47.) 

41. Thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save 
his people from their sins. (Matt. i. 21.) 

42. Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised 
again for our justification. (Rom. iv. 25.) 

43. God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of 
our Lord Jesus Christ. (Gal. vi. 14.) 

44. And this I pray, that yoiu- love may abound yet more 
and more in knowledge and all judgment. (Phil. i. 9.) 

45. Thy vows are upon me, O God ; I will render praises 
unto thee. (Ps. lvi. 12.) 

46. Blessed are the poor in spirit : for theirs is the king- 
dom of heaven. (Matt. v. 3.) 



20 PASTOR'S MANUAL. 

47. Blessed are they that mourn : for they shall be com- 
forted. (Matt. v. 4.) 

48. Blessed are the meek : for they shall inherit the 
earth. (Matt. v. 5.) 

. 49. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after 
righteousness : for they shall be filled. (Matt. v. 6.) 

50. Blessed are the merciful : for they shall obtain mercy. 
(Matt. v. 7.) 

51. Blessed are the pure in heart : for they shall see God. 
(Matt. v. 8.) 

52. Blessed are the peacemakers : for they shall be called 
the children of God. (Matt. v. 9.) 

53. O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall show 
forth thy praise. (Ps. li. 15.) 

54. Cast thy burden upon the Lord and he shall sustain 
thee. (Ps. lv. 22.) 

55. That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of 
men, but in the power of God. (1 Cor. ii. 5.) 

56. That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called 
you unto his kingdom and glory. (1 Thess. ii. 12.) 

57. Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation 
of your souls. (1 Pet. i. 9.) 

58. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and 
whose hope the Lord is. (Jer. xvii. 7.) 

59. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord ; my soul shall be 
joyful in my God. (Isa. lxi. 10.) 

60. My Beloved is mine, and I am his. (Sol. Song ii. xvi.) 

61. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy 
might. (Ec. ix. 10.) 

62. Great peace have they which love thy law, and noth- 
ing shall offend them. (Ps. cxix. 165.) 

63. Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him. (Job 
xiii. 15.) 



WATCHWORDS FOE NEW MEMBERS. 21 

64. Think upon me, my God, for good. (Neh. v. 19.) 

65. The hand of our God is upon all them for good that 
seek him. (Ez. viii. 22.) 

66. He that doeth the will of God abideth forever. 
(1 Johnii. 17.) 

6 7. Godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Tim. 
vi. 6.) 

68. Fight the good fight of faith. (1 Tim. vi. 12.) 

69. As the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from 
the heart. (Eph. vi. 6.) 

70. Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 
(Eph. vi. 10.) 

71. Put on the whole armor of God. (Eph. vi. 11.) 

72. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, 
being made a curse for us. (Gal. iii. 13.) 

73. We know that all things work together for good to 
them that love God. (Rom. viii. 28.) 

74. Ye are the light of the world. (Matt. v. 14.) 

75. Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord. (La. xliii. 10.) 

76. He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities. (Ps. 
cxxx. 8.) 

7 7. In your patience possess ye your souls. (Luke xxi. 19.) 

78. Occupy till I come. (Luke xix. 13.) 

79. For where your treasure is, there will your heart lie 
also. (Luke xii. 34.) 

80. Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burn- 
ing. (Luke xii. 35.) 

81. Blessed are those servants whom the Lord, when he 
cometh, shall find watching. (Luke xii. 37.) 

82. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace 
for grace. (John i. 16.) 

83. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 
(Phil. i. 21.) 



22 PASTOR'S MANUAL. 

84. What things were gain to me, those I counted loss 
for Christ. (Phil. iii. 7.) 

85. I press toward the mark, for the prize of the high 
calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil. iii. 14.) 

86. For by grace are ye saved, through faith ; and that 
not of yourselves : it is the gift of God. (Eph. ii. 8.) 

87. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. (Eph. 
iii. 17.) 

88. Speaking the truth in love. (Eph. iv. 15.) 

89." Grow up into him in all things, which is the Head, 
even Christ. (Eph. iv. 15.) 

90. Walk as children of light. (Eph. v. 8.) 

91. I can do all things through Christ, which strength- 
eneth me. (Phil. iv. 13.) 

92. Your life is hid with Christ in God. (Col. iii. 3.) 

93. Christ is all and in all. (Col. iii. 11 ) 

94. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wis- 
dom. (Col. iii. 16.) 

95. Walk in wisdom toward them that are without. (Col. 
iv. 5.) 

96. Let us labor, therefore, to enter into that rest. (Heb. 
iv. 11.) 

9 7. Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul. (Heb. 
vi. 19.) 

98. The Lord reigneth : let the earth rejoice. (Ps. 
xcvii. 1.) 

99. Glory to God in the highest: and on earth peace, 
good will toward men. (Luke ii. 14.) 

100. But one thing is needful. (Luke x. 42.) 

101. Mary hath chosen that good jiart, which shall not 
be taken away from her. (Luke x. 42.) 

102. One thing I know, that whereas I was blind, now I 
see. (John ix. 25.) 



THE ORDINATION OF A MINISTER. 23 

103. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the 
life. (John xi. 25.) 

101. He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet 
shall he live. (John xi. 25.) 

105. Ye call me Master, and Lord : and ye say well; for 
so I am. (John xiii. 13.) 

106. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you; 
continue ye in my love. (John xv. 9.) 



The Ordination of a Minister. 
I. 

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power 
is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye, therefore, 
and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the 
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost ; teaching 
them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded 
you : and lo ! I am with you alway, even unto the end of 
the world (Matt, xxviii. 18-20).— And he said unto 
them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to 
every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall In- 
saved ; but he that believeth not shall be damned (Mark 
xvi. 15, 16). — How shall they believe in him of whom 
they have not heard ? and how shall they hear without «a 
preacher ? and how shall they preach except they be sent ? 
as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that 
preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good 
things ! So faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the 
word of God (Rom. x. 14-17). — For I am not ashamed 
of the gospel of Christ : for it is the power of God unto 
salvation, to every one that believeth ; to the Jew first, and 



24 PASTOR'S MANUAL. 

also to the Greek (Rom. i. 16). — It pleased God by the 
foolishness of preaching to save them that believe (1 Cor. 
i. 21). — And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; 
and some, evangelists ; and some, pastors and teachers ; for 
the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, 
for the edifying of the body of Christ : till we all come in the 
unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, 
unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the 
fulness of Christ (Eph. iv. 11-13). — And all things are 
of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, 
and given to us the ministiy of reconciliation ; to wit, that 
God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not 
imputing their trespasses unto them, and hath committed 
unto us the word of reconciliation. Now, then, we are am- 
bassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us. 
We pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God 
(2 Cor. v. 18-20)". — Therefore, seeing we have this minis- 
try, as we have received mercy, we faint not ; but have re- 
nounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in 
craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but 
by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to 
every man's conscience in the sight of God (2 Cor. iv. 1, 
2). — Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of 
Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, 
it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful 
(1 Cor. iv. 1, 2). 

This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a 
bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop, then, must 
be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of 
good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach ; not 
given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre ; but 
patient, not a brawler, not covetous ; one that rujeth well 



THE ORDINATION"' OF A MINISTER. 25 

his own house, having his children in subjection with all 
gravity ; not a novice, lest, being lifted up with pride, he 
fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must 
have a good report of them which are without, lest he fall 
into reproach and the snare of the devil (1 Tim. iii. 1-7). 

— The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also 
an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also 
a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed : feed the flock 
of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, 
not by constraint, but willingly ; not for filthy lucre, but of 
a ready mind ; neither as being lords over God's heritage, 
but being ensamples to the flock. And, when the chief 
Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory. 
that fadeth not away (1 Pet. v. 1-4). — Give attendance 
to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift 
that is in thee; meditate on these things; give thyself 
wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear to all (1 Tim. 
iv. 13-15). — Let him that is taught in the word communi- 
cate unto him that teacheth in all good things (Gal. vi. 6). 

— Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges ? 
"Who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? 
or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the 
flock ? Say I these things as a man ? or saith not the law 
the same also ? For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou 
shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the 
corn. Doth God take care for oxen V or saith he it altogether 
for our sakes ? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written : 
that he that plougheth should plough in hope ; and that he 
that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we 
have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we 
shall reap your carnal things ? Even so hath the Lord or- 
dained, that they which preach the gospel should live of the 
gospel (1 Cor. ix. 7-14). — Obey them that have the rule 



26 PASTOR'S MANUAL. 

over you, and submit yourselves ; for they watch for your 
souls as they that must give account, that they may do it 
with joy and not with grief, for that is unprofitable for you. 
Pray for us ; for we trust we have a good conscience, in all 
things willing to live honestly (Heb. xiii. 17, 18). 



The Funeral of a Minister. 

And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made 
great lamentation over him. (Acts viii. 2.) 

And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, 
they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of 
Israel. (Num. xx. 20.) 

So Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land 
of Moab, according to the word of the Lord ; and he buried 
him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth- 
peor : but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day. 
And Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he 
died : his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. 
And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of 
Moab thirty days : so the days of weeping and mourning 
for Moses were ended. (Deut. xxxiv. 5-8.) 

Njw, Samuel was dead, and all Israel lamented him, and 
buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. (1 Sam. xxviii. 
3.) 

Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, be- 
fore I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray 
thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. And it 
came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that behold 
there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and part- 
ed them both asunder ; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind 



THE FUNERAL OF A MINISTER. 27 

into heaven. And Elisha saw it ; and lie cried, My father ! 
my father ! the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof ! 
And he saw hi. n no more. (2 Kings ii. 9, 11, 12.) 

For none of us liveth to himself, an 1 no man dieth to 
himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord ; and 
whether we die, we die unto the Lord ; whether we live, 
therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ 
both died, and rose, and revived, that he. might be Lord 
both of the dead and living. (Rom. xiv. 7-9.) 

Now, also, Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether 
it be by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to 
die is gain. Yet what I shall choose I wot not ; for I am in a 
strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with 
Christ; which is for better. (Phil. i. 20, 21, 23.) 

lis that winneth soals is wise. (Prov. xi. 30.) 

And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the 
firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as 
the stars for ever and ever. (Dan. xii. 3.) 

Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, 
be with me where I am ; that they may behold my glory, 
which thou hast given me. (John xvii. 24.) 

For God hath not appointed us unto wrath, but to obtain 
salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ ; who died for us, that, 
whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with 
him. Wherefore, comfort yourselves together, and edify one 
another even as also ye do. (1 Thess. v. 9-11.) 

I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a 
place for you. I will come again, and receive you unto my- 
self; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John xiv. 
2, 3.) 

So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in cor- 
ruption, it is raised in incorruption : it is sown in dishonor, 
it is raised in glorv : it is sown in weakness, it is raised in 



28 PASTOR'S MANUAL. 

power : it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual 
body. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorrup- 
tion, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then 
shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is 
swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting ? O 
grave, where is thy victory ? Thanks be to God, which 
giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ' (1 
Cor. xv. 42-44, 54-57.) 



The Funeral of a Child. 
I. 

A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter 
weeping ; Rachel weeping for her children, refused to be 
comforted for her children, because they were not. Thus 
saith the Lord, Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine 
eyes from tears : for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the 
Lord. (Jer. xxxi. 15, 16.) 

And Reuben returned unto the pit : and behold, Joseph 
was not in the pit ; and he rent his clothes. And he re- 
turned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not ; and I, 
whither shall I go ? And Jacob rent his clothes, and put 
sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many 
days. And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to 
comfort him ; but he refused to be comforteti : and he said, 
For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. 
Thus his father wept for him. (Gen. xxxvii. 29, 30, 34, 35.) 

And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye be- 
reaved of my children. Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and 
ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against 
me. (Gen. xlii. 36.) 

The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away ; blessed 



THE FUNERAL OF A CHILD. 29 

be the name of the Lord. In all this, Job sinned not, nor 
charged God foolishly. (Job i. 21, 22.) 

But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, 
to come unto me ; for of such is the kingdom of heaven. 
(Matt. xix. 14.) 

And it came to ]iass, on the seventh day, that the child 
died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that 
the child was dead : for they said, Behold, while the child 
was yet alive, we spake unto him, ami he would not hearken 
unto our voice : how will he then vex himself, if we tell him 
that the child is dead ? But when David saw that his ser- 
vants whispered, D.ivid perceived that the child was dead : 
therefore David said unto his servants. Is the child dead ? 
And they said, He is dead. Then David arose from the 
earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his 
apparel, and came into the house of the Lord, and worship- 
ped : then he came to his own house ; and when he required, 
they set bread before him, and he did eat. Then said his 
servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? 
Thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive ; 
but, when the child was dead, thou didst rise, and eat bread. 
And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and 
wept ; for I sail, Who can tell whether God will be gracious 
to me, that the child may live ? But now he is dead, 
wherefore should I fast ? Can I bring him back again ? I 
shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. (2 Sam. 
xii. 18-23.) 

II. 

And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he 
went out to his father to the reapers. And he said unto his 
father. My head, my head ! And he said to a lad, Cany 
him to his mother. And when he had taken him, and 
brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, 



PASTOR'S MANUAL. 



and then died. So she went and came unto the man of God 
to Mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of 
God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi, his servant, 
Behold, yonder is that Shunammite : run now, I pray thee, to 
meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee ? Is it 
well with thy husband ? Is it well with the child ? And 
she answered, It is well (2 Kings iv. 18, 20, 25, 26).-— 
The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry ? All 
flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower 
of the field : the grass withereth, the flower fadeth ; because 
the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it : surely the people is 
grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth : but the 
word of our God shall stand forever (Isa. xl. 6-8). — - God 
is our refuge and strength, a very jiresent help in trouble 
(Ps. xlvi. 1). — Now, no chastening for the present seemeth 
to be joyous, but grievous : nevertheless, afterward, it yield- 
eth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are 
exercised thereby (Heb. xii. 11). — I know, O Lord, that 
thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast 
afflicted me. Unless thy law had been my delights, I should 
then have perished in mine affliction (Ps. cxix. 75, 92). — 
Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and 
teachest him out of thy law ; that thou mayest give him rest 
from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the 
wicked (Ps. xciv. 12, 13). — My son, despise not the chas- 
tening of the Lord (Prov. iii. 11). 



The Funeral of a Youth. 

Even the youths shall faint, and be weary ; and the young 
men shall utterly fall : but they that wait upon the Lord 
shall renew their strength ; they shall mount up with wings 



THE FDNEEAL OF A YOUTH. 31 

as eagles ; they shall run, and not be weary ; and they shall 
walk and not faint (Isa. xl. 30, 31). — Lord, make me to 
know my end, and the measure of my days, what it is, that I 
may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days 
as a hand-breadth, and mine age is as nothing before thee : 
verily, every man at his best estate is altogether vanity 
(Ps. xxxix. 4, 5). — Thou turnest man to destruction, and 
sayest, Return, ye children of men! (Ps. xc. 3). — The 
days of his youth hast thou shortened. Remember how 
short my time is. What man is he that liveth, and shall not 
see death ? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the 
grave? (Ps. lxxxix. 45, 47, 48.) — Rejoice, O young man, 
in thy youth ; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of 
thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the 
sight of thine eyes ; but know thou, that for all these things 
God will bring thee into judgment (Ecc. xi. 9). — Re- 
member now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while 
the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh when thou 
shalt say, I have no pleasure in them (Ecc. xii. 1). — 
Boast not thyself of to-morrow ; for thou knowest not what a 
day may bring forth (Prov. xxvii. 1). — Wherefore, as the 
Holy Ghost saith, To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden 
not your hearts (Heb. iii. 7. 8). — It is better to go to the 
house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting ; for 
that is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to his heart. 
Sorrow is better than laughter ; for by the sadness of the 
countenance the heart is made better. The heart of the 
wise is in the house of mourning ; but the heart of fools is in 
the house of mirth (Ece. vii. 2-4). — For the Lord will 
not cast off forever. But though he cause grief, yet will he 
have compassion, according to the multitude of his mercies. 
For he doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children 
of men (Lam. iii. 31-33). — But he for our profit, that 



32 PASTOR'S MANUAL. 

we might be partakers of his holiness (Heb. xii. 10). — 
And Moses said unto the Lord, Wherefore hast thou afflicted 
thy servant? (Num. xi. 11.) — Let us search and try our 
ways, and turn again to the Lord (Lam. iii. 40). — Search 
me, O God, and know my heart ; try me, and know my 
thoughts ; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and 
lead me in the way everlasting (Ps. cxxxix. 23, 24). — "So 
teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts 
unto.wisdom. Return, O Lord, how long? and let it repent 
thee concerning thy servants. Oh, satisfy us early with thy 
mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make 
us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted 
us, and the years wherein we have seen evil. Let thy work 
appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. 
Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us ; and es- 
tablish thou the work of our hands upon us : yea, the work 
of our hands, establish thou it (Ps. xc. 12-17). 



The Funeral of the Aged. 

Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither 
doth trouble spring out of tlie ground ; yet man is born 
unto trouble as the sparks fly upward. I would seek unto 
God, and unto God would I commit my cause ; which doeth 
great things, and unsearchable ; marvellous things without 
number : to set up on high those that be low ; that those 
which mourn may be exalted to safety. Behold, happy is 
the man whom God correcteth ; therefore despise not thou the 
chastening of the Almighty ; for he maketh sore, and bind- 
eth up ; he woundeth, and his hands make whole. He shall 
deliver thee in six troubles ; yea, in seven there shall no 



THE FUNEEAL OF THE AGED. 33 

evil touch thee. Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age ; 
like as a shock of corn conieth in in his season (Job. v. 6- 
11, 17-19, 26). — After this lived Job a hundred and forty 
years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four gener- 
ations. So Job died, being old, and full of days (Job xlii. 
16, 17). — And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace ; thou 
shalt be buried in a good old age (Gen. xv. 15). — And 
these are the days of the years of Abraham's life, which 
he lived, a hundred three-score and fifteen years. Then 
Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an 
old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people 
(Gen. xxv. 7, 8). — And all the days of Methuselah were 
nine hundred sixty and nine years ; and he died (Gen. v. 
27). — And so death passed upon all men, for that all 
have sinned (Rom. v. 12). — He shall call upon me, and 
I will answer him : I will be with him in trouble ; I will 
deliver him and honor him. With loug life will I satisfy 
him, and show him my salvation (Ps. xci. 15, 16). — The 
fear of the Lord prolongeth days : but the years of the 
wicked shall be shortened (Prov. x. 27). — The hoary 
head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of right- 
eousness (Prov. xvi. 31). — The righteous shall flourish 
like the palm-tree : he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 
Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flour- 
ish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth 
fruit in old age : they shall be fat and flourishing, to show 
that the Lord is upright : he is my rock ; and there is no un- 
righteousness in him (Ps. xcii. 12-15). — Though he slay 
me, yet will I trust in him (Job xiii. 15). — All the days 
of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come 
(Job xiv. 14). — As it is appointed unto men once to die, 
but after this the judgment : so Christ was once offered to 
bear the sins of manv ; and unto them that look for him shall 



34. PASTOR'S MANUAL. 

lie appear the second time, without sin unto salvation 
(Heb. ix. 27, 28). 



The Funeral of the Christian. 
I. 

And I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write, 
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth ; 
yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors ; 
and their woi'ks do follow them. (Rev. xiv. 13.) 

I praised the dead which are already dead, more than the 
living which are yet alive. (Ecc. iv. 2.) 

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I 
live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor; yet what I 
shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, 
having a desire to 'depart and to be with Christ ; which is 
far better. (Phil. i. 21-23.) 

Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt 
thou be with me in paradise. (Luke xxiii. 43.) 

Let not your heart be troubled ; ye believe in God, be- 
lieve also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions : 
if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to pre- 
pare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for 
you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that 
where I am, there ye may be also. (John xiv. 1-3.) 

Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given me 
be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory. 
(John xvii. 24.) 

Where I am, there shall also my servant be. (John 
xii. 26.) 

His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful ser- 
vant, thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make 



THE FUNERAL OF THE CHRISTIAN. 35 

thee ruler over many things ; enter thou into the joy of thy 
Lord. (Matt. xxv. 23.) 

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle 
were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not 
made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Therefore we 
are always confident ; knowing that, whilst we are at home 
in the body, we are absent from the Lord (for we walk by 
faith, not by sight) : we are confident, I say, and willing 
rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with 
the Lord. (2 Cor. v. 1, G-8.) 

He which testifieth these things saith, Surely, I come 
quickly : Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (Rev. 
xxii. 20.) 

Watch ye, therefore : for ye know not when the master of 
the house comcth, at even, or at midnight, or at cock-crow- 
ing, or in the morning ; lest, coming suddenly, he find you 
sleeping. And what I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch. 
(Mark xiii. 35-3 7.) 

II. 

Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord, when he cometh, [ 
shall find so doing. (Matt. xxiv. 4G.) 

Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been 
here, my brother had not died. Jesus saith unto her, 
Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, 
I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection, at the 
last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the Resurrection and 
the Life : he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet 
shall he live. (John xi. 22, 23-25.) 

Marvel not at this : for the hour is coming, in the which 
all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come 
forth; they that have done good unto the resurrection of 
life, and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of 
damnation. (John v. 28, 20.) 



36 PASTOR'S MANUAL. 

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the 
first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came 
death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For 
as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made 
alive. (1 Cor. xv. 20-22.) 

Behold, I show you a mystery : We shall not all sleep, 
but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of 
an eye, at the last trump : for the trumpet shall sound, and 
the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be 
changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, 
and this mortal must put on immortality. (1 Cor. xv. 
51-53.) 

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, con- 
cerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as 
others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus 
died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Je- 
sus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by 
the word of the Lord, that we which are alive, and remain 
unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which 
are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from 
heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and 
with the trump of God : and the dead in Christ shall rise 
first : then we which are alive, and remain, shall be caught 
up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the 
air : and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore, 
comfort one another with these words. (1 Thess. iv. 13-18.) 

Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so 
great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, 
and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run 
with jDatience the race that is set before us, looking unto 
Jesus. (Heb. xii. 1, 2.) 

That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through 
faith and patience inherit the promises. (Heb. vi. 12.) 



FUNERAL. 37 



Funeral. 

What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? 
Shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave ? (Ps. 
lxxxix. 48.) 

For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. (Gen. 
iii. xix.) 

As by one man sin entered into the world, and death by 
sin ; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have 
sinned. (Rom. v. 12.) 

For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the 
house appointed for all living. (Job xxx. 23.) 

Man dieth, and wasteth away : yea, man giveth up the 
ghost, and where is he? (Job xiv. 10.) 

Every man shall draw after him as there are innumerable 
before him. (Job xxi. 33.) 

For we must needs die ; neither doth God respect any per- 
son. (2 Sam. xiv. 14.) 

There is no man that hath power over the spirit, neither 
hath he power in the day of death : and there is no dis- 
charge in that war ; neither shall wickedness deliver those 
that are given to it. (Ecc. viii. 8.) 

The graves are ready for me. (Job xvii. 1.) 

For what is your life ? It is even a vapor that appeareth 
for a little time, and then vanisheth away. (Jas. iv. 14.) 

So teach us to number our days that we may apply our 
hearts unto wisdom. (Ps. xc. 12.) 

My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle. (Job vii. 6.) 

Now my days are swifter than a post. They are passed 
away as the swift ships ; as the eagle that hasteth to the 
prey. (Job ix. 25, 26.) 

Oh, that they were wise, that they understood this, that 
they would consider their latter end. (Deut. xxxii. 29.) 



38 PASTOR'S MANUAL. 

Your time is always ready. (John vii. 6.) 

Therefore, be ye also ready ; for in such an hour as ye 
think not, the Son of man cometh. (Matt. xxiv. 44.) 

Prepare to meet thy God. (Amos iv. 12.) 

To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your 
hearts. (Heb. iii. 7, 8.) 

If a man die, shall he live again ? (Job xiv. 14.) 

Who [Christ] hath brought life and immortality to light 
through the gospel. (2 Tim. i. 10.) 

Jesus said unto her, I am the Resurrection and the Life. 
(John xi. 25.) 

All that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall 
come forth. (John v. 28, 29.) 

And have hope toward God ; which they themselves also 
allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of 
the just and unjust. (Acts xxiv. 15.) 

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God ; 
and the books were opened ; and another book was opened, 
which is the book of life : and the dead were judged out 
of those things which were written in the books, according 
to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were 
in it ; and death and hell delivered np the dead which were 
in them : and they were judged every man according to their 
works. (Rev. xx. 12, 13.) 

Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you 
that God should raise the dead ? (Acts xxvi. 8.) 

For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of 
Christ ; that every one may receive the things done in his 
body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good 
or bad. (2 Cor. v. 10.) 

Hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it. (Mic. vi. 
9.) 

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might : 



SANCTIFIED AFFLICTIONS. 39 

for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, 

in the grave, whither thou goest. (Eec. ix. 1').) 

Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and 

I will give you rest. (Matt. xi. 28.) 

Come, and let us return unto the Lord; for he hath torn, 

and he will heal us : lie hath smitten, and he will bind i.s 

up. (Hos. vi. 1.) 



Sanctified Afflictions. 

Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray (Jas. v. 
13). — Call upon me in the day of trouble: I wi'l deliver 
thee, and thou shalt glorify me (Ps. 1. 15). — In my dis- 
tress, I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he 
heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before 
him, even into his ears (Ps. xviii. 6). — Who is anions 
you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his 
servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light ? Let 
him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God 
(Is. 1. 10). — The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of 
trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him (Xahum 
i. 7). — God is our refuge and strength, a very present help 
in trouble ; therefore will not we fear. Be still, and know 
that I am God. I will be exalted among the heathen; I 
will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us ; 

the God of Jacob is our refuge (Ps. xlvi. 1. 2, 10. 11). 

Before I was afflicted, I went astray: but now have I kept 
thy word. It is good forme that I have been afflicted, that 
I might learn thy statutes (Ps. cxix. 67, 71). — Blessed is 
the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him 
out of thy law: that thou mayest give him rest from the 
days of adversity (Ps. xciv. 12, 13). — We are chas- 



40 PASTOR'S MANUAL. 

tened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with 
the world (1 Cor. xi. 32). — Blessed be God, even the 
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and 
the God of all comfort ; who comforteth us in all our trib- 
ulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in 
an j trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are 
comforted of God (2 Cor. i. 3, 4). — If need be, ye are in 
heaviness through manifold temptations ; that the trial of 
your faith, being much more precious than of gold that 
perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto 
praise and honor and glory, at the appearing of Jesus 
Christ (1 Pet. i. 6. 7). — In the world, ye shall have trib- 
ulation ; but be of good cheer : I have overcome the world 
(John xvi. 33). — Peace I leave with you, my peace I give 
unto you ; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let 
not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 
xiv. 27). — And rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And 
not only so ; but we glory in tribulations also : knowing that 
tribulation worketh patience ; and patience, experience ; 
and experience, hope ; and hope maketh not ashamed, 
because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the 
Holy Ghost, which is given unto us (Rom. v. 2-5). 

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we 
are the children of God : and if children, then heirs ; heirs 
of God, and joint-heirs with Christ ; if so be that we suffer 
with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I 
reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not wor- 
thy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed 
in us (Rom. viii. 16-18). — Who shall separate us from the 
love of Christ ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, 
or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword ? Nay, in all 
these things, we are more than conquerors through him that 
loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, 



FOR THE SICK. 41 

nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, 
nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other crea- 
ture, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which 
is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. viii. 35, 37-39). — For all 
things are for your sakes ; that the abundant grace might, 
through the thanksgiving of many, redound to the glory of 
God. For which cause, we faint not ; but, though our out- 
ward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by 
day. For our light affliction, winch is but for a moment, 
worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of 
glory : while we look not at the things which are seen, but 
at the things which are not seen ; for the things which are 
seen are temporal ; but the things which are not seen are 
eternal (2 Cor. iv. 15-18). — We know that all things 
work together for good to them that love God, to them who 
are the called according to his purpose. For whom lie did 
foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the 
image of his Son, that he might be the first-born amono- 
many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them 
he also called ; and whom he called, them he also justified ; 
and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall 
we then say to these things ? If God be for us, who can be 
against us (Rom. viii. 28-31) ? 

N. B. Scripture selections proper for funeral occasions : 
Psalms xxxix., xc, cii., cxvi ; Lam. chap. iii. ; 1 Cor. chap, 
xv. ; Heb. chap. xii. ; as discretion may dictate. 



For the Sick. 
I. 

The Lord is my Shepherd : I shall not want. He mak- 
eth me to lie down in green pastures : he leadeth me beside 



42 PASTOR'S MANUAL. 

the still waters. He restoretli my soul : he leadeth me in 
the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, 
though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I 
will fear no evil ; for thou art with me : thy rod and thy 
staff, they comfort me. (Ps. xxiii. 1-4.) 

Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me ; for I am 
desolate and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are en- 
larged. Oh, bring thou me out of my distresses ! Look upon 
mine affliction and my pain, and forgive all my sins. (Ps. 
xxv. 16-18.) 

n. 

Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath; neither chasten 
me in thy hot displeasure. For thine arrows stick fast in 
me, and thy hand presseth me sore. I am feeble and sore 
broken : I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my 
heart. Lord, all my desire is before thee ; and my groan- 
ing is not hid from thee. My heart panteth, my strength 
faileth me ; as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone 
from me. Forsake me not, O Lord ; O my God, be not far 
from me. Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation. 
(Ps. xxxviii. 1, 2, 8-10, 21-22.) 

1 am in a great strait. Let us fall now into the hand of 
the Lord ; for his mercies are great. (2 Sam. xxiv. 14.) 

III. 

Lord, make me to know my end, and the measure of my 
days, what it is, that I may know how frail I am. And 
now, Lord, what wait I for ? my hope is in thee. Deliver 
me from all my transgressions. I was dumb ; I opened not 
my mouth, because thou didst it. Remove thy stroke 
away from me. I am consumed by the blow of thine hand. 
When thou with rebukes doth correct man for iniquity, thou 
makest his beauty to consume away like a moth. Hear my 



FOR THE SICK. 43 



prayer, O Lord, and give ear unto my cry : hold not thy 
peace at my tears ; for I am a stranger with thee, and a so- 
journer, as all my fathers were. Oh, spare me, that I may 
recover strength, before I go hence and be no more. (Ps. 
xxxix. 4, 7-13.) 

IV. 

We pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 
For he hatli made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, 
that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 
(2 Cor. v. 20, 21.) 

The will of the Lord be done. (Acts xxi. 14.) 

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him. (Job xiii. 15.) 

It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait 
for the salvation of the Lord ; for he doth not afflict will- 
ingly. (Lam. iii. 26, 33.) 

But he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his 
holiness. (Ileb. xii. 10.) 

Patient in tribulation. (Rom. xii. 12.) 

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be 
perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (Jas. i. 4.) 

Casting all your care upon him ; for he careth for you. 
(1 Pet. v. 7.) 

Be careful for nothing ; but in every thing, by prayer and 
supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made 
known unto God ; and the peace of God, which passeth all 
understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through 
Christ Jesus. (Phil. iv. 6, 7.) 

V. 

Now, a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, 
the town of Mary and her sister Martha. Therefore his 
sisters sent unto him [Jesus], saying, Lord, behold, he whom 
thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This 



44 PASTOR'S MANUAL. 

sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that 
the Son of God might be glorified thereby. (John xi. 1-4.) 

And [he] healed all that were sick ; that it might be ful- 
filled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Him- 
self took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses. (Matt, 
viii. 1G, 17.) 

The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languish- 
ing : thou wilt make all his bed in his sickne'ss. (Ps. xli. 3.) 

As thy days, so shall thy strength be. The eternal God 
is thy refuge ; and underneath are the everlasting arms. 
(Deut. xxxiii. 25, 27.) 

My grace is sufficient for thee. (2 Cor. xii. 9.) 

For we have not a High Priest which cannot be touched 
with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points 
tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore 
come boldly unto. the throne of grace, that we may obtain 
mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb. iv. 
15, 16.) 

For the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have 
mercy upon his afflicted. (Is. xlix. 13.) 

For he hath not despiseth nor abhorred the affliction of 
the afflicted ; neither hath he hid his face from him : but 
when he cried unto him, he heard. (Ps. xxii. 24.) 

I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice, and my 
supplication. I was brought low, and he helped me. Re- 
turn unto thy rest, O my soul ; for the Lord hath dealt 
bountifully with thee. What shall I render unto the Lord 
for all his benefits toward me ? I will take the cup of sal- 
vation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my 
vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people. 
(Ps. cxvi. 1, 6, 7, 12-14.) 



MISSIONARY CONCERT. 45 



Missionary Concert. 

For as much, then, as we are the offspring of God, we 
ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or 
silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. And the 
times of this ignorance, God winked at ; but now command- 
eth all men everywhere to repent : because he hath ap- 
pointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in right- 
eousness by that man whom he hath ordained ; whereof he 
hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised 
him from the dead. (Acts xvii. 29-31.) 

Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, 
and to rise from the dead the third day ; and that repent- 
ance and remission of sins should be preached in his name 
among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are 
witnesses of these things. (Luke xxiv. 46-48.) 

Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in 
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy 
Ghost ; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I 
have commanded you ; and lo, I am with you alway, even 
unto the end of the world. (Matt, xxviii. 19. 20.) 

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and 
preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth 
and is baptized, shall be saved ; but he that believeth not 
shall be damned. "So then, after the Lord had spoken un- 
to them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the 
right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached 
everywhere, the Lord working wi.h them, and confirming 
the word with signs following. (Mark xvi. 1.5, 16, 19, 20.) 

Their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto 
the ends of the world. (Rom. x. 18.) 

The Lord gave the word : great was the company of those 
that published it. (Ps. lxviii. 11.) 



46 



PASTOR'S MANUAL. 



So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the 
word of God. (Rom. x. 17.) 

Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be in- 
creased. (Dan. xii. 4.) 

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, hav- 
ing the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell 
on the earth, and to every nation and kindred, and tongue, 
and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give 
glory to him ; for the hour of his judgment is come ; and 
worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and 
the fountains of waters. (Rev. xiv. 6, 7.) 

II. 

The whole world lieth in wickedness (1 John v. 19). — 
They are without excuse ; because that, when they knew 
God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful ; 
but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish 
heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, 
they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorrupt- 
ible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and 
to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. And 
even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, 
God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things 
which are not convenient ; being filled with all unrighteous- 
ness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness ; 
full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity ; whisperers, 
backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, in- 
ventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without 
understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, 
implacable, unmerciful ; who, knowing the judgment of 
God, that they which commit such things are worthy of 
death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them 
that do them (Rom. i. 20-23, 28-32). — The dark places 



MISSIONARY CONCERT. 



of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty (Ps. Ixxiv. 
20). — And hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation ; 
to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto 
himself (2 Cor. v. 18, 19). — And as Moses lifted up the ser- 
pent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be 
lifted up; that whosoever believeth in him should not 
perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, 
that he* gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever be- 
lieveth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the 
world, but that the world through him might be saved (John 
hi. 14-17). — -And he is the propitiation for our sins : and 
not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world (1 
John ii. 2). — We have seen and do testify, that the Father 
sent the. Son to be the Saviour of the world (1 John iv. 14). 

— Go ye therefore, and teach all nations (Matb. xxviii. 19). 

— Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every 
creature (Mark xvi. 15). 

III. 

This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the 
world, for a witness unto all nations : and then shall the end 
come (Matt. xxiv. 14). — Be it known therefore unto you, 
that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that 
they will hear it (Acts xxviii. 28). — The earth shall be 
filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, 
as the waters cover the sea (Hab. ii. 14). — Yea, all 
kings shall tall down before him : all nations shall 
serve him (Ps. Ixxii. 11). — Of the increase of his 
government and peace, there shall be no end, upon the 
throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to 
establish it with judgment and with justice from hence- 
forth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will per- 
form this (Isa. ix. 7). — I saw in the night visions; and 



48 PASTOR'S MANUAL. 

behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of 
heaven, and came to the ancient of days, and they brought 
him near before hiin. And there was given him dominion, 
and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and 
languages should serve him : his dominion is an everlasting 
dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that 
which shall not be destroyed (Dan. vii. 13, 14). — And 
the seventh angel sounded ; and there were great voices in 
heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the 
kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ ; and he shall 
reign for ever and ever (Rev. xi. 15). — From the rising of 
the sun even unto the going down of the same, my name 
shall be great among the Gentiles ; and in every place 
incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering : 
for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the 
Lord of hosts (Mai. i. 11). The kingdom and dominion, 
and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, 
shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, 
whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all do- 
minions shall serve and obey him (Dan. vii. 27). 

IV. 

Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? (Acts ix. 6.) 

And I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I 
send, and who will go for us ? Then said I, Here am I : 
send me. (Isa. vi. 8.) 

And he said unto me, Depart ; for I will send thee far 
hence unto the Gentiles. (Acts xxii. 21.) 

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Je- 
sus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with 
the affairs of this life. (2 Tim. ii. 3, 4.) 

Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges ? 
(1 Cor. ix. 7.) 



MISSIONARY CONCERT. 49 

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double 
honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine. 
For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that 
treadeth out the corn ; and, the laborer is worthy of his re- 
ward. (1 Tim. v. 17, 18.) 

Honor the Lord with thy substance, and Avith the first 
fruits of all thine increase. (Prov. iii. 9.) 

The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the 
churl said to be bountiful. But the liberal deviseth liberal 
things ; and by liberal things shall he stand. (Isa. xxxii. 
B, 8.) 

Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of 
God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia ; how that in a 
great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy, and their 
deep poverty, abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 
But first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by 
the will of God. (2 Cor. viii. 1, 2, 5.) 

See that ye abound in this grace also, to prove the sin- 
cerity of your love. For ye know the grace of our Lord 
Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes 
he became pooi*, that ye through his poverty might be rich. 
(2 Cor. viii. 7-97) 

And let us not be weary in well doing : for in due season 
we shall reap, if we faint not. (Gal. vi. 9.) 

That the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and 
not as of covetousness. But this I say, he Avhich soweth spar- 
ingly shall reap also sparingly ; and he which soweth boun- 
tifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as 
he purposeth in Ms heart, so let him give : not grudgingly, or 
of necessity ; for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is 
able to make all grace abound toward you, that ye, always 
having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every 
good work. (2 Cor. ix. 5-8.) 
4 



50 PASTOR'S MANUAL. 

And let us consider one another, to provoke unto love 
and to good works. (Heb. x. 24.) 

For God is not unrighteous, to forget your work and labor 
of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye 
have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we de- 
sire that every one of you do show the same diligence, to 
the full assurance of hope unto the end. (Heb. vi. 10, 11.) 

V. 

Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plen- 
teous, but the laborers are few : pray ye therefore the Lord 
of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his 
harvest. (Mitt. ix. 3 7, 38.) 

And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a 
mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 
And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples, and 
of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles. 
(Luke vi. 12, 13.) 

As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy 
Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work 
whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted 
and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them 
away. (Acts xiii. 2, 3.) 

Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine 
inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy 
possession. (Ps. ii. 8.) 

Thus saith the Lord God : I will yet for this be inquired 
of by the house of Israel, to do it for them. I will increase 
them with men like a flock. (Ezek. xxxvi. 37.) 

Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray un- 
to me, and I will hearken unto you. (Jer. xxix. 12.) 

Continuing instant in prayer. (Rom. xii. 1 2.) 

Pray without ceasing. (1 Thess. v. 17.) 



FOR A FAST. 51 



Men ought always to pray, and not to faint. (Luke xviii. 1 .) 
Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord 

may have free course and be glorified, even as it is with 

you. (2 Thess. iii. 1.) 



For a Fast. 

And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to 
fast : and they come and say unto him, Why do the dis- 
ciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples 
fast not ? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of 
the bride-chamber last while the bridegroom is with them ? 
As long as they have the bridegroom with them, the}' cannot 
fast but the days will come when the bridegroom shall be 
taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those 
days. (Mark ii. 18-20.) 

Moreover, when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a 
sad countenance ; for they disfigure their faces, that they 
may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you. they 
have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint 
thine head, and wash thy face ; that thou appear not unto 
men to last, but unto thy Father which is in secret : anil thy 
Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 
(Matt. vi. 1C-18.) 

Now, there were in the church that was at Antioch cer- 
tain prophets and teachers ; as Barnabas, and Simeon that 
was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which 
had been brought up with Ilerod the tetrarch, and Saul. As 
they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost 
said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work where- 
unto I have called them. And when they had fasted and 
prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 
(Acts xiii. 1-3.) 



52 PASTOR'S MANUAL. 

And when they had ordained them elders in every church, 
and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the 
Lord, on whom they believed. (Acts xiv. 23.) 

In fastings often. (2 Cor. xi. 27.) 

Then I [Ezra] proclaimed a fast there, at the River Ahava, 
that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of 
him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all 
our substance. So we fasted, and besought our God for 
this ; and he was entreated of us. (Ezra viii. 21, 23.) 

Is not this the fast that I have chosen ? to loose the bands 
of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the 
oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke ? Is 
it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring 
the poor, that are cast out, to thy house ? When thou seest 
the naked, that thou cover him ; and that thou hide not 
thyself from thine own flesh V Then shall thy light break 
forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth 
speedily, and thy righteousness shall go before thee : the 
glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward. (Isa. lviii. 6-8.) 

Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot 
save ; neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear : but your 
iniquities have separated between you and your God ; and 
your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. 
(Isa. lix. 1, 2.) 

Therefore also now, saith the Lord, Turn ye even to me 
with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping) 
and with mourning, and rend your heart, and not your gar- 
ments, and turn unto the Lord your God ; for he is gracious 
and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and re- 
penteth him of the evil. (Joel ii. 12, 13.) 

Wash you, make you clean ; put away the evil of your 
doings from before mine eyes ; cease to do evil ; learn to do 
well ; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the father- 



FOR THANKSGIVING. 53 

less, plead for the widow. Come, now, and let us reason to- 
gether, saith the Lord : Though your sins be as scarlet, they 
shall be as white as snow ; though they be red like crimson, 
they shall be as wool. (Isa. i. 16-18.) 

Vide also Ps. li., Neh. ix., Dan. ix., Ps. cii. 



For Thanksgiving. 

Be ye thankful. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, 
do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God 
and the Father by him. (Col. iii. 15. 17.) 

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so 
walk ye in him, rooted and built up in him. and stablished 
in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with 
thanksgiving. (Col. ii. 6, 7.) 

Every good gift and every perfect gift is frem above, and 
cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no 
variableness, neither shadow of turning. (Jas. i. 17.) 

But we arc bound to give thanks alway to God for you, 
brethren, beloved of the Lord ; because God hath from the 
beginning chosen you to salvation, through sanctincation of 
the Spirit, and belief of the truth ; whereunto he called you 
by our gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Je- 
sus Christ. (2 Thess. ii. 13. 14.) 

For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace 
might, through the thanksgiving of many, redound to the 
glory of God. (2 Cor. iv. 15.) ■ 

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. (2 Cor. 
ix. 15.) 

O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good : for his 
mercy endureth forever. Oh, that men would praise the Lord 



54 PASTOR'S MANUAL. 

for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children 
of men. For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the 
hungry soul with goodness. (Ps. cvii. 1, 8, 9.) 

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and 
make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. (Ps. xcv. 2.) 

What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits 
toward me ? I will take the cup of salvation, and call up- 
on the name of the Lord. (Ps. cxvi. 12, 13.) 

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless 
his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not 
all his benefits. He hath not dealt with us after our sins, 
nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. (Ps. ciii. 1 , 
2, 10.) 

And thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven 
days after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine. 
And thou shalt rejoice in the feast, thou, and thy son, and 
thy daughter, and thy man-servant, and thy maid-servant, 
and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the 
widow that are within thy gates. Because the Lord thy 
God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the 
works of thy hands : therefore thou shalt surely rejoice. 
And they shall not appear before the Lord empty. Every 
man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of 
the Lord thy God which he hath given thee. (Deut. xvi. 
13-17.) 

This day is holy unto the Lord your God : mourn not 
nor weep. Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, 
and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared ; 
for this day is holy unto our Lord : neither be ye sorry, for 
the joy of the Lord is your strength. (Neh. viii. 9, 10.) 

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may 
be meat in mine house ; and prove me now herewith, saith 
the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven, 



CONFERENCES OF CHURCHES. 55 

and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room 
enough to receive it. And all nations shall call you blessed : 
for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts. 
(Mai. iii. 10, 12.) 

For the Lord thy God bringeth thee unto a good land, — a 
land of brooks of water, of fountains, and depths that spring 
out of valleys and hills ; a land of wheat, and barley, and 
vines, and fig-trees, and pomegranates ; a land of oil-olive 
and honey ; a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without 
scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it ; a land whose 
stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig 
brass. When thou hast eaten, and art full, then thou shalt 
bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath 
given thee. (Deut. viii. 7-10.) 

For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh 
unto them as the Lord our God is in all things that we call 
upon him for ? (Deut. iv. 7.) 

Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants of the Lord, 
praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the 
Lord, from this time forth and forevermore. (Ps. cxiii. 
1,2.) 

For the Lord God is a sun and shield : the Lord will give 
grace and glory : no good thing will he withhold from them 
that walk uprightly. (Ps. lxxxiv. 11.) 



Conference of Churches. 

If there be, therefore, any consolation in Christ, if any 
comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bow- 
els and mercies, fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like minded, 
having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory ; but in 



56 PASTOR'S MANUAL. 

lowliness of mind, let each esteem other better than them- 
selves. Look not every man on his own things, but every 
man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you 
which was also in Christ Jesus. (Phil. ii. 1-5.) 

Let brotherly love continue. (Heb. xiii. 1.) 

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to 
dwell together in unity. It is like tha precious ointment up- 
on the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's 
beard, that went down to the skirts of his garments : as the 
dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the 
mountains of Zion ; for there the Lord commanded the 
blessing, even life, forevermore. (Ps. cxxxiii.) 

How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts ! 
Blessed are they that dwell in thy house : they will be still 
praising thee. They go from strength to strength : every 
one of them in Zion appeareth before God. (Ps. Ixxxiv. 1, 
4, 7.) 

Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father and 
from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and 
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with 
all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. (Eph. 
i. 2, 3.) 

So we, being man)', are one body in Christ, and every one 
members one of another. Having, then, gifts differing ac- 
cording to the grace that is given unto us, whether proph- 
ecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith ; 
or ministry, let us wait on our ministry ; or he that teach- 
eth, on teaching ; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation. He 
that giveth, let him do it with simplicity ; he that ruleth, 
with diligence ; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. 
(Rom. xii. 5-8.) 

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so 
walk ye in him, rooted and built up in him, and stablished 



TEMPERANCE CONVENTION. 57 

in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with 
thanksgiving. (Col. ii. 6, 7.) 

All the churches shall know that I am he which search- 
eth the reins and hearts ; and I will give unto every one of 
you according to your works. (Rev. ii. 23.) 

Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 
(John xv. 14.) 

Be thou faithful unto death ; and I will give thee a crown 
of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit 
saith unto the churches. (Rev. ii. 10, 11.) 



Temperance Convention. 

Wine is a mocker ; strong drink is raging ; and whosoever 
is deceived thereby is not wise. (Prov. xx. 1.) 

Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giv- 
eth his color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At last 
it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. (Prov. 
xxiii. 31, 32.) 

Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men 
of strength to mingle strong drink. (Isa. v. 22.) 

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess ; but be 
filled with the Spirit. (Eph. v. 18.) 

Let us walk honestly as in the day ; not in rioting and 
drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in 
strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, 
and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts 
thereof. (Rom. xiii. 13, 14.) 

Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning that 
they may follow strong drink ; that continue until night till 
wine inflame them ! And the harp and the viol, the tabret 
and pipe, are in their feasts ; but they regard not the work 



58 PASTOR'S MANUAL. 

of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands. 
(La. v. 11, 12.) 

Who hath woe ? who hath sorrow ? who hath conten- 
tions ? who hath babbling ? who hath wounds without 
cause ? who hath redness of eyes ? They that tarry long 
at the wine : they that go to seek mixed wine. Thine eyes 
shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter 
perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down 
in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of 
a mast. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was 
not sick ; they have beaten me, and I felt it not ; when shall 
I awake ? I will seek it yet again. (Prov. xxiii. 29, 30, 
33-35.) 

- Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, that put- 
test thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also. (Hab. 
ii. 15.) 

Be not deceived : nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunk- 
ards, nor revilers, nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom 
of God. (1 Cor. vi. 9, 10.) 

Now, the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these : 
envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like ; 
of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in 
time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit 
the kingdom of God. (Gal. v. 19, 21.) 

Do not drink wine, nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons 
with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congrega- 
tion, lest ye die. It shall be a statute forever throughout 
your generations. (Lev. x. 9.) 

But they also have erred through wine, and through 
strong drink are out of the way : the priest and prophet 
have ei'red through strong drink ; they are swallowed up of 
wine ; they are out of the way through strong drink : they 
err in vision, they stumble in judgment. (Isa. xxviii. 7.) 



SABBATH-SCHOOL CONVENTION. 59 

And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites 
pots full of wine, and cups ; and I said unto them, Drink ye 
wine. But they said, We will drink no wine ; for Jonadab, 
the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, Ye 
shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons forever. (Jer. 
xxxv. 3, G.) 

A bishop, then, must be blameless, not given to wine, no 
striker, not greedy of filthy lucre. Likewise must the dea- 
cons be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, 
not greedy of filthy lucre. (1 Tim. iii. 2, 3, 8.) 

But let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep, sleep 
in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in 
the night. But let us' who are of the day be sober, putting 
on the breastplate of faith and love, an 1 for a helmet the 
hope of salvation. (1 Thess. v. G-8.) 



Sabbath-School Convention. 

Train up a child in the way he should go ; and when he 
is old he will not depart from it. (Prov. xxii. G.) 

For I know him (Abraham), that he will command his 
children and his household after him ; and they shall keep 
the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment. (Gen. 
xviii. 19.) 

Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, 
lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and 
lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life ; but 
teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons. (Deut. iv. 9.) 

Hear, O Israel : The Lord our God is one Lord. And 
thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and 
with all thy sou!, and with all thy might. And these words, 



60 PASTOR'S MANUAL. 

which I command thee this clay, shall be in thy heart ; and 
thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt 
talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when 
thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and 
when thou risest up. (Deut. vi. 4-7.) 

That the generation to come might know them, even the 
children which should be born, who should arise and' de- 
clare them to their children, that they might set their hope 
in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his com- 
mandments. (Ps. lxxviii. 6, 7.) 

As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord : 
my Spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put 
in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of 
the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's 
seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and forever. (Isa. 
lix. 21.) 

Gather the people together, men and women and chil- 
dren, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they 
hear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, 
and observe to do all the words of this law. (Deut. 
xxxi. 12.) 

Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father; but a child 
left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. (Prov. xxix. 
3,15.) 

Children, obey your parents in the Lord ; for this is right. 
Honor thy father and mother, which is the first command- 
ment with promise ; that it may be well with thee, and thou 
mayest live long on the earth. And ye fathers, provoke 
not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the 
nurture and admonition of the Lord. (Eph. vi. 1-4.) 

Come, ye children, hearken unto me : I will teach you 
the fear of the Lord. (Ps. xxxi v. 11.) 

My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my com- 



SCRIPTURE REFERENCES. 61 

mandments with thee, so that thou incline thine ear unto 
wisdom, and apply thy heart to understanding : yea, if 
thou cryest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for un- 
derstanding ; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for 
her as for hid treasures ; then shalt thou understand the fear 
of the Lord, aDd find the knowledge of God. (Prov. ii. 1-5.) 

I love them that love me ; and those that seek me early 
shall find me. (Prov. viii. 1 7.) 

My son, give me thy heart. (Prov. xxiii. 26.) 



Scripture References 

To which inquirers may be profitably directed, to deepen 
and confirm the impressions of pastoral instructions. 

By consulting the headings, the pastor may find the refer- 
ences appropriate to particular states and difficulties in the 
experience of inquirers. Other references will readily oc- 
cur. 

1. — To deepen Conviction of Sin. 

Gen. vi. 5 ; Jer. xvii. 9 ; John v. 42 ; Rom. viii. 7, 8 ; Ps. 
xiv. ; Rom. iii. 9-18; 2 Cor. v. 17; Isa. i. 4-6. 

2. — The Insufficiency of Personal Righteousness. 
Rom. vii. ; viii. 8 ; Isa. lxiv. 6 ; Rom. x. 1-4 ; Rom. iii. 
9-20; Gal. ii. 21. 

3. — The Ground of Justif cation and Righteousness. 
Gal. ii. 16; Rom. iii. 21-30; 2 Cor. v. 14-21 ; Gal. iii. ; 
Phil. iii. ; Col. i. ; Rom. x. 6-13. 

4. — Atonement. 
Heb. ix. 22 ; Rev. vii. 14 ; Eph. i. 7 ; Rev. v. 9 ; Rom. v. 
6, 8, 9 ; 1 John ii. 2 ; Heb. ii. 9 ; 1 Tim. ii. 6 ; 2 Cor. v. 
14, 15. 



62 PASTOR'S MANUAL. 

5. — Regeneration : Necessity and Nature. 
John iii. ; Gal. vi. 15; Rom. viii. 7, 8; Fa. li. 1-3; Epli. 
ii. 1-3 ; 2 Cor. iii. 18 ; 1 John iv. 7, 8, 16 ; John i. 12, 13 ; 
Rom. xiii. 8, 10. 

6. — Evidences of Regeneration. 
2 Cor. v. 13-18; Ps. liii. ; Ps. i. 1-3; Ps. cxix. ; 1 John 
iii. 14 ; Luke vi. 43-49 ; John xiv. 23, 24. 

7. — Freeness of Salvation. 
Vide under 4th. Isa. xlv. 22 ; Mark xvi. 15 ; Rev. iii. 20 ; 
Rev. xxii. 17; John vii. 37; Isa. Iv. 1 ; Matt. xi. 28. 

8. — Repentance. 
Matt. iii. 1, 2; iv. 17 ; Luke xiii. 1-5 ; Acts xvii. 30, 31. 

9. — Faith. 
Mark xvi. 15, 16; John iii. 15-18, 36; Rom. i. 17; x. 
8-14. 

10. — Suhnission. 

Luke iii. 23-25; Mark viii. 34-38; 1 Sam. iii. 18; 2 
Sam. xv. 26 ; Matt. vi. 10; 2 Cor. v. 20; James iv. 7, 10. 

11. — Exc uses T a in. 
Matt. xxii. 12; Rom. I. 20; iii. 19; Luke xiv. 18-24; 
xix. 20-27. 

12. — Earnestness in securing Salvation. 
Luke xiii. 23-30 ; Matt. xi. 12; 1 Cor. ix. 24-27; Phil, 
ii. 12, 13; Col. i. 29; Heb. iv. 11; Phil. iii. 13-15; 2 Pet. 
i. 10. 

13. — Duty of making a Profession of Faith. 

2 Cor. vi. 14-18 ; vii. 1 ; Matt. v. 13-16 ; Luke viii. 16 ; 
Matt. x. 29-33; Luke xii. 8, 9; John ix. 22; Rom. x. 9, 
10; 1 Tim. vi. 12, 13; Luke xxii. 17-20; John xv. 14-15 ; 
1 Cor. xi. 23-34. 



SCRIPTURE REFERENCES. 63 

14. — In Darkness. 
Ps. xlii. ; xliii.; cii. ; cii. ; cvii. ; Matt. xi. 28, 29; Isa. 1. 
4-10 ; xxvi. 3, 4 ; Jas. v. 13 ; Ps. 1. 14, 15. 

15. — Doctrinal Instruction. 

(1.) Trinity in Unity of the Godhead : Deut. vi. 4 ; 1 
Cor. viii. 4 ; Isa. xliv. 6 ; xlv. 5, ; Gen. i. 26 ; iii. 22 ; xi. 
7; Isa. vi. 8; Matt, xxviii. 19; 2 Cor. xiii. 14; Isa. xlviii. 
16. 

(2.) Supreme Divinity of Christ : John i. 1-4 ; 1 John 
v. 20 ; Isa. ix. 6 ; Heb. i. 8 ; Isa. vi. 1, 3, 5, with John xii. 41 ; 
Rom. ix. 5 ; Phil. ii. 6 ; Heb. i. 3 ; Col. ii. 9, 10 ; Heb. xiii. 
8; John xxi. 17 ; Phil. iii. 20, 21 ; Col. i. 16, 17; Heb. i. 
10; John v. 23 ; Heb. i. 6 ; Ps. ii. 12; Rev. v. 8-14; Matt, 
xxviii. 9, 17. 

(3.) Supreme Divinity of the Holy Ghost : Matt, xxviii. 
19; 2 Cor. xiii. 14; Acts v. 3, 4 ; Matt. xii. 31, 32; Ps. 
cxxxix. 7; Heb. ix. 14 ; Acts ii. 32, with 1 Pet. iii. 10 ; 1 
Cor. xii. 1-11. 

(4.) Perseverance: (a) A duty. 2 Pet. i. 10; Rev. ii. 10, 
11,17, 26. (b) Purposed. Rom. viii. 28-39 ; Eph. i. 5, 11 ; 
1 Pet. i. 18-25; Isa. liii. 10-12; John x. 27-29. (c) Pre- 
dicted: Job xvii. 9 ; Ps. xxxvii. 23. 24 ; Ps. lxxxix. 30-37 ; 
Jer. xxxii. 40; Phil, i 6. (cl) Christ prayed for it : John 
xvii. Heb. vii. 25. 

(5.) Free Agency: Prov. xxiii. 26; Deut. xxx. 19; 
Josh. xxiv. 15; Hosea xiii. 9; Isa. i. 16, 17, 19, 20; John 
v. 40; Ezek. xviii. 30-32. 

(6.) Union of Divine and Human Agency: Phil. ii. 12, 
13; Ezck. xxxvii. 27; Isa. x. 5-7. 12, 13, 15, 16 ; Gen. xlv. 
11, with 1. 20, with xlii. 21, 22; Jud. xx. 21, with Ps. exxi. 
5-8 ; Acts ii. 23 ; Luke xxii. 22, with Matt, xxvii. 3, 4 ; 
Gal. v. 22-25 ; Isa. lv. 8, 9 ; 2 Cor. v. 9, 10 ; Rom. xiv. 12. 



64 PASTOR'S MANUAL. 

(7.) Election : Eph. i. 4, 5, 11 ; iii. 11 ; Rom. viii. 30 ; 1 
Pet. i. 2; Acts xiii. 48 ; 2 Thess. ii. 13; Rom. ix ; xi. 5, 
6 ; Jas. i. 18; John i. 13. 

(8.) Baptism: Matt, xx viii. 18-20 ; Mark xvi. 15; John 
iii. 5, 25, 26; iv. 1, 2; Mark vii. 2-4; Heb. ix. 10, 13, 
14 ; Ezek. xxxvi. 25 ; Isa. Iii. 15, with Acts viii. 30-3G ; 

1 Cor. x. 1,2; Heb. x. 22 ; xii. 24 ; 1 Pet. i. 2 ; Acts i. 
5, with ii. 18, 33. 

Infant Baptism : Gen. xvii. 9 ; Rom. iv. 11; Gal. iii. 7, 
29, 17; Rom. xv. 8 ; Isa. xxxiv. 10 ; Rom. xi. 16, 17, 22, 20 ; 
Rom. ii. 28, 29 ; Deut. xxx. 6 ; Pet. iii. 21 ; Ezek. xxxvi. 
25,-27; 1 Chron. xvi. 15,-17; Jer. xxx. 20; Gen. xviii. 
19. 

(9.) Discipline: Matt. v. 23, 24; xviii. 15-18. 2 Cor. v. 
4, 5, 11, 13; 1 Thess. v. 14; 2 Thess. iii. 6, 7, 14, 15; Rom. 
xv. 1-3 ; 1 Cor. v.. 1-5 ; Matt, xviii. 21, 22 ; Luke xvii. 4; 
Tit. iii. 10; Col. iv. 17. 

(10.) Congregationalism: Vide the preceding references 
under Discipline. Also (a) Church. Matt. x. 32; Acts 
ii. ; Rom. i. 7, 8 ; 1 Cor. i. 2-11, 1 7-34 ; xiv. ; 1 Tim. iii. 15 ; 

2 Tim. iii. 16, 17 ; Eph. ii. ; Acts i. ; vii. ; ix. 10, 19, 32, 38 ; 
xi. ; xiv. 1-4, 21-23, 24-27; xv. 4, 12, 22-30, 40, 41 ; xvi. 
1, 2; Rom. xvi. 1, 5 ; 1 Cor. xvi. 1, 19 ; 2 Cor. viii. 1 ; Gal. 
i. 2 ; Col. i. 2 ; iv. 13-16 ; Rev. i. 11 ; ii. ; iii. (,&) Right of 
choice in the church. Acts i. 15-26 ; vi. 1-6 ; xiv. 23, 24 ; 
xv. 22-29; 2 Cor. viii. 19. (c) Officers. Eph. iv. 11-13; 
Acts vi. 1-6; Phil. i. 1 ; 1 Tim. iii. 1-15; Rom. xvi. i; 1 
Tim. v. 9, 10. 

Elders, Pastors, Teachers, Overseers, Bishops, different 
titles of the same order of church-officers : Acts xx. 1 7— 
28; Acts xi. 30 ; xiv.; xv. 6; 1 Thess. v. 12; 1 Tim. iii. 
1-7 ; Tit, i. 5-9 ; 1 Pet. v. 1-4 ; Rom. xii. 6-9 : 1 Cor. xii. 
28; 1 Thess. v. 12; Heb. xiii. 7, 17. 



FORMS OF MARRIAGE. 



Gf> 



Forms of Marriage. 

Marriage, like " the powers that be," is ordained of God 
in the nature and relation of things. But Congregational- 
ists do not consider it as a sacrament. The ceremony may 
partake somewhat of a religious character ; but it is deemed 
to be chiefly magisterial, as being regulated by statute law, 
to which it must conform. Hence, it is important that the 
minister who officiates should know what, by the laws of 
his Commonwealth, is required of him, and how far his au- 
thority in the premises extends. 

The formula in the ceremony may vary in expression ; 
but in every case it should include a covenant agreement of 
the parties to be faithful to one another in the conjugal 
relation. A frequent form is the following : — 

Having examined the certificate, or license, and found it 
properly filled, and the parties of legal age, the minister 
asks them. Are you ready for the ceremony ? And receiving 
an affirmative, he requests them to unite their right hands, 
when he may proceed according to the following 

form: 

Mr. A. B., do you take the woman whom you hold by the 
hand to be your wedded wife ? He assents. 

Miss C. D., do you take the man whom you hold by the 
hand to be your wedded husband ? She assents. 

You therefore solemnly, each and jointly, promise and 
covenant in the presence of God. and these witnesses, that, 
as husband and wife, you will forsake all other persons, and 
that you will cleave to, love, cherish, keep, and support one 
another in the faithful discharge of all the duties of the 
conjugal relation, which you now assume until death do you 
part. 

As a token and pledge that you thus enter into the cov- 



66 PASTOR'S MANUAL. 

enant of marriage with each other, you will separate your 
hands. 

I, therefore, by the authority vested in me by the Com- 
monwealth, declare you to be lawfully married, husband and 
wife. Let us pray. 

If the parties have a hymn, it may be sung before the 
usual congratulations. 

II. 

You do, in the presence of these witnesses, and before 
God, mutually and solemnly promise to receive each other 
as your lawfully wedded husband and wife. 

You promise to love, to honor, and to cherish each other, 
according to all the rights, and privileges, and duties of the 
holy state of matrimony. 

You do mutually give pledge, each to the other, that you 
will in all kindness and faithfulness, and to the extent of 
your ability, mutually aid and help and bless each other, 
and mutually share your joys and sorrows, till death part 
you. 

In pledge hereof you do now give each to the other your 
right hand. 

Being now thus solemnly pledged and united, I do, by 
the authority vested in me by the Commonwealth, pro- 
nounce you husband and wife. 

Wherefore they are no more twain but one flesh. What 
therefore, God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. 

Let us pray. b. 

III. 

A more formal service, suitable for the sanctuary. 

Assembled on this interesting and joyful occasion, for the 
marriage of these persons, we may with propriety listen to 
a few passages from the Holy Scriptures. 



FORMS OF MARRIAGE. 



(57 



And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man 
should be alone : I will make him a help meet for him. 
And Adam said, This is now bone of my bone, and flesh of 
my flesh : she shall be called woman, because she was taken 
out of man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his 
mother, and shall cleave unto his wife ; and they shall be 
one flesh. (Gen. ii. 18, 23, 24.) 

Marriage is honorable in all. (Heb. xiii. 4.) 

And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Gali- 
lee ; and the mother of Jesus was there. And both Jesus 
was called and his disciples to the marriage. (John ii. 1, 2.) 

Not to (mote other passages, it appears that marriage 
was instituted by the Lord God while man was in Eden ; 
and, like the Sabbath, it has survived the fall of man to be 
a perennial fountain of blessings. Our Lord Jesus Christ 
gave his sanction to the institution, by his presence at the 
marriage in Cana of Galilee, and by the miracle which he 
there wrought, by which he " manifested forth his glory." 
By his instructions, also, he strengthened the ties of mar- 
riage, to be broken only by crime or death. 

Therefore, if any know cause or just impediment why this 
marriage should not proceed, let them now declare it, or 
henceforth hold their peace. No cause or just impediment 
being apparent, this certificate, or license, authorizes the 
consummation of the ceremony. 

You will therefore join your right hands, and take upon 
you the marriage-vow. 

In the presence of God and these witnesses, you promise 
and covenant, as husband and wife, to forsake all others, and 
to keep to each other in plighted troth ; loving, honoring, 
aiding, and cheering one another in all the changes of life ; 
faithful in all your duties in this new relation until death 
separate you. 



68 PASTOR'S MANUAL. 

He now asks them, What token and pledge do you give and 
receive that you both do sincerely make the marriage-vow ? 

The bridegroom, or some other person, gives the ring to 
the minister, who directs the bridegroom to put it on the 
fourth finger of the left hand of the bride. 

Having thus promised and covenanted, and given and re- 
ceived a ring as the token and pledge of your conjugal fidelity, 
I therefore declare you lawfully wedded husband and wife. 
What God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 

Let us pray. 

Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you from God our Fath- 
er, and from Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. 

IV. 

You, A and B, propose to be united with each other 
in the holy state of matrimony. This is a state approved 
of God, a glory of the first Eden, and not lost in the apos- 
tacy. The marriage ceremony was honored by the sacred 
presence and miraculous power of our Lord Jesus himself; 
nor can the honor and blessedness of true marriage be sur- 
passed, except in the perfections of heaven, where they 
neither marry nor are given in marriage. 

As about to enter into this state, with deliberate and ma- 
tured purpose, and knowing no impediment, human or di- 
vine, why you should not, you mutually promise to take each 
other as wedded husband and wife. 

You promise to love and honor and cherish each other 
according to all the rights and duties and privileges of the 
holy state of matrimony. 

In the presence of this company, and before God, you mutu- 
ally pledge each other, that you will, in all faithfulness and 
kindness, and to the extent of your ability, meet the obliga- 
tions, and share the joys and sorrows, of life, till death part you. 



ORDER OF EXERCISES ON THE SABBATH. 69 

Have you any token or sign by which you will be wed- 
ded to each other ? 

[The man hands to the woman, and she to the minister, a 
ring.] 

Will you, A, with this ring, wed this woman to be your 
wife ? 

Will you, B, with this ring, wed this man to be your 
husband ? 

[The minister gives the ring to the man, and he puts it 
on the fourth finger of the woman's left hand.] 

By this symbol and act you are now wedded to each other. 

[The minister now puts the right hand of the woman in 
the right hand of the man.] 

And now, being thus publicly pledged, and visibly united, 
I do pronounce you husband and wife unto each other. 
Whom, therefore, God hath joined together, let not man put 
asunder. 

Let us pray. B. 



Order of Exercises on the Sabbath. 

[These exercises may be differently arranged, and others 
added or substituted, according to the discretion of the pas- 
tor, with the sanction of the church.] 

A. M. P. M. 

1. Invocation. 1. Hymn. 

2. Hymn. 2. Heading the Scriptures. 

3. Reading the Scriptures. 3. Prayer. 

4. Prayer. 4. Hymn. 

5. Hymn. 5. Notices, &c. 

6. Notices for the am. ' 6. Sermon. 

7. Sermon. 7. Prayer. 

8. Collection taken up. 8. Collection. 

9. Hymn. (Usually omitted.) 9. Hymn. 

10. Prayer. 10. Benediction. 

11. Benediction. 



70 PASTOR'S MANUAL. 

Order of Exercises at the Laying of the Corner- 
stone of a Maeting-house or Chape!. 

1. Reading the Scriptures. 

2. Hymn. 

3. Prayer. 

4. Enumerating and putting the articles into their place, 
and fixing the stone in its position. 

5. Addresses. 

6. Benediction. 



Order of Procedure at the Organization of a 
Church. 

1. The Council is called to order by one of the older mem- 
bers, who reads the letter-missive, and calls for the appoint- 
ment of a moderator, by nomination or ballot. 

2. The moderator offers prayer, and says, " Please nom- 
inate some brother to be the scribe." 

3. The scribe gathers the names of the pastors and del- 
egates, and keeps a record of the doings. 

4. The moderator, having announced a majority of the 
council present, asks for the doings of the brethren ; the 
letters of dismission from the churches with which any have 
been connected, and the reasons which have influenced the 
brethren in the premises in desiring to be organized into a 
church; together with articles of faith, and the covenant 
which they have adopted ; also statements respecting the 
prospect of sustaining the institutions of the gospel among 
themselves. 

5. If the above particulars appear satisfactory, upon a 
motion made it is so voted. 



DEDICATION ORDER OF EXERCISES. /I 

6. The council proceeds to hear the religious experience 
of those persons who have not made a profession ; and no 
objection being made to any one, — 

7. The brethren come forward, and the articles of faith 
are read and assented to. 

8. Baptism is administered to such persons as have not 
been baptized. 

9. The covenant is read and assented to. 

10. Address to the church thus organized, and the right 
hand of fellowship given to each member, with a watch- 
word from the selection foregoing, if desirable. 

11. Prayer of consecration. 

12. Hymn. 

13. Sermon, and invitation to the communion. 

14. Baptism of children. 

15. Communion. 

16. Hymn and benediction. 

1 7. The council make up their minutes, and adjourn sine 
die. 



Order of Exercises at the Dedication of a Meet- 
ing-House or Chapel. 

1. Invocation. 

2. Anthem. 

3. Reading the Scriptures. 

4. Prayer. 

5. Historical statements. 

6. Hymn. 

7. Sermon. 

8. Dedicatory prayer. 

9. Hymn. 

10. Benediction. 



PASTOR'S MANUAL. 



Order of Procedure at an Ordination or 
Installation. 

1. The council is organized as in the case of the organ- 
ization of a church, when the moderator announces a ma- 
jority of the council present, and calls for the documents 
in the case ; the doings of the church and parish ; the call 
and the answer, and the terms of the civil contract ; also 
papers and statements of the pastor elect ; his church-mem- 
bership ; his letter of approbation, if a licentiate ; or, if an 
ex-pastor, the doings of the council at his dismission. 

5. If the council vote documents and statements satisfac- 
tory, they proceed, either through the moderator, or by al- 
phabetical order of the churches present, to the examina- 
tion of the candidate, to such a length as maybe expedient, 
in relation to his knowledge of the doctrines and institu- 
tions of the gospel ; and (if a layman, his literary and 
scientific attainments) his views of church-polity and disci- 
pline ; his skill in. exegesis, and in dealing with error ; his 
religious experience ; his call to the ministry, and his mo- 
tives in relation to it. 

[This examination is usually conducted by the moderator, 
supplemented by questions from others of the council.] 

C. The council vote to be by themselves. 

7. A motion is then made and seconded, That, being sat- 
isfied with the examination of the candidate, the council 
proceed to his ordination, or installation. If voted, — 

8. The parts, through a committee, are assigned. The 
candidate usually selects the preacher and the one to give 
the right hand of fellowship, who, with others, are ap- 
proved. 

9. The minutes of the council are read by the scribe, 
corrected if need be, and adopted. 



ORDER OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE. 



73 



10. The doors being opened to the public, the moderator 
reports the doings of the council, when the council adjourns 
to the hour of the public exercises. 



Order of the Public Service. 

1. The Scribe reads the minutes. 

2. Voluntary by the choir. 

3. Introductory prayer. 

4. Reading the Scriptures. 

5. Hymn. 

6. Sermon. 

7. Ordaining prayer and laying on of hands, or install- 
ing prayer. 

8. Charge to the pastor. 

9. Right hand of fellowship. 

10. Address to the people. 

11. Hymn, or anthem. 

12. Prayer. 

13. Benediction by the pastor. 

14. The minutes being completed, and signed by the 
moderator and scribe, the counctl adjourns sine die. 

Note. — The scribe keeps the original minutes, and gives 
an attested copy to the church to be entered on the records 
of the same. 



Rules of the General Association of the Congre- 
gational Churches of Massachusetts. 

I. Name. — This body shall be called The General Asso- 
ciation of the Congregational Churches of Massachusetts. 

II. Object. — Its object is to secure Christian union, fel- 



74 PASTOR'S MANUAL. 

low ship, and intercourse among the ministers and churches ; 
promote spirituality ; and to co-operate with one another, 
and with other ecclesiastical bodies, in advancing the Re- 
deemer's kingdom. 

III. Doctrinal Basis. — This association agrees to the 
Declaration of Faith adopted by the National Council of 
the Congregational churches in the year 1865 ; the doctrines 
therein set forth being understood by us to be distinctly 
those which, from the beginning, have been embraced by 
the churches of New England as the doctrines of the gospel. 

IV. Denominational Basis. — Being based exclusively 
upon Congregational pi'inciples, this association shall, under 
no circumstances, exercise ecclesiastical authority over 
churches or individuals, or interfere with the government or 
discipline of the churches, or consent to hear appeals or 
give advice in ecclesiastical causes of any kind. 

V. Members. — Each District Association of ministers 
consenting to the principles above stated may appoint, an- 
nually, two delegates ; and each District Conference of 
churches, also so consenting, may appoint, annually, three 
delegates, who shall be laymen ; which delegates, with the 
Secretary, Registrar, Treasurer, and the pastor of the 
church with which the annual session is held, shall com- 
pose the General Association. Delegates from correspond- 
ing bodies, ministers appointed to preach sermons, and 
chairmen of committees attending to present reports, shall 
be honorary members, together with such other persons as 
the Association may vote to admit. 

VI. Officers. — A Secretary, a Registrar, and a Treas- 
urer shall be chosen by ballot, each to serve three years from 
the close of the session at which the choice was made ; to 
these officers any member of any Congregational church 
connected with this body shall be eligible. 



RULES OF THE GENERAL ASSOCIATION. 



2. A Moderator and an Assistant Registrar shall be 
chosen by ballot from the members of each session, to serve 
during that session. 

3. The Secretary shall conduct the correspondence of 
the Association, collect the statistics of the ministers and 
churches and have charge of the printing thereof, distribute 
the publications of the Association, and preserve for the per- 
manent use of the Association copies of all its publications. 

4. The Registrar shall make the records of each meeting, 
and preserve them as the permanent property of the Asso- 
ciation ; to whom the Assistant Registrar shall render his 
aid. He shall seasonably notify the time and place of each 
annual session. 

5. The Treasurer shall receive all money raised for the 
use of the Association, disburse the same as directed, and 
present an annual report, to be audited as the Association 
may direct. 

6. The Secretary, Registrar, and Treasurer shall be ex 
officio members of the Association, and be the Committee 
of Publication unless another be chosen. Their travelling 
expenses in attending the several sessions shall be paid by 
the Association. 

VII. Quorum. — Twenty-five Delegates shall constitute 
a quorum. 

VIII. Annual Meeting. — The Annual Meeting shall 
be held on the third Tuesday of June, at 4 o'clock, p.m. (or 
at some other more convenient hour), at such place as shall 
have been duly designated. 

IX. Home Missionary Society. — The Massachusetts 
Home Missionary Society may annually elect two Delegates 
to be members of this body while it consents that this body 
may nominate two persons for membership in the Executive 
Committee of that societv. 



PASTOR'S MANUAL. 



X. Correspondence.- — 1. Our principles of fraternal 
intercourse with all ecclesiastical bodies in correspondence 
with us are, that this Association, and each body so con- 
nected with it, shall annually appoint Delegates to the 
other, which shall be admitted to the privilege of sitting 
and deliberating upon all matters which may come under 
consideration. 

2. The Delegates shall, as far as practicable, be selected, 
one. from the District Associations and one from the Dis- 
trict Conferences, in rotation. Brethren chosen substitutes 
in the delegations to the bodies in our connection, shall, at 
our next session, be considered as Delegates to the respec- 
tive bodies, if they shall not previously have taken their 
seats there through the failure of their principals. 

3. The printed Minutes of the Association shall be suffi- 
cient testimonials of the appointment of Delegates to 
corresponding bodies. 

4. It shall be the duty of those Delegates who attend the 
meetings of corresponding bodies, whether they be prima- 
ries or substitutes, to certify the Secretary in writing, on or 
before the opening of the Annual Meeting next after their 
appointment. 

XL Organization. — The Pastor of the church of the 
place of meeting, or the Secretary, may call the Association 
to order, and preside in the meeting until it be properly 
organized. The certificates of the Delegates present shall 
be presented, — only the names of members being read by 
the Registrar. The Association shall then be organized 
by the choice of a Moderator and an Assistant Registrar, 
and the Moderator shall open the session with prayer. A 
Committee on Credentials shall then be appointed, to whom 
all certificates shall be referred. 

XII. Sermons. — A sermon shall be preached on the 



RULES OF THE GENERAL ASSOCIATION. 77 



evening of the first day of the session, and another, adapted 
to the occasion, before the Lord's Supper. 

XIII. Committees. — 1. The committees for the session 
are these : — 

(1.) A Committee on Credentials, who shall be appointed 
by the Moderator immediately after the opening of the 
session. 

(2.) A Committee on Nominations, to nominate the fol- 
lowing, and any other committees referred to them. 

(3.) A Committee of Arrangements, consisting of three, 
of which the pastor, or some member of the church, shall be 
one, to prepare the business of the session ; and no business 
shall be introduced during the session, but through the 
hands and with the approbation of the committee. But 
if said committee decline presenting any item of business 
proposed by any member, he shall have the privilege of 
appeal to the Association. 

(4.) A Committee to audit the accounts, who shall report 
the state of the treasury, and the sum in their opinion neces- 
sary to be paid the next year by the churches of the several 
Conferences connected with this body. 

(5.) A Committee to nominate Delegates to correspond- 
ing bodies. 

2. To act after the adjournment : — 

(1.) A Provisional Committee of five to arrange the sched- 
ule for the next annual meeting ; to select a preacher for 
the opening sermon, and persons to prepare such written 
papers as they shall deem desirable. 

(2.) A Committee on Home Evangelization, which shall 
make an annual report to this body upon the work of the 
churches and state of religion, unless otherwise ordered 
at any session. 

XIV. Exercises. — The time of the annual sessions 



PASTOR'S MANUAL. 



shall be occupied by devotional services, the consideration of 
the state of religion, the wants and methods of Home Evan- 
gelization, addresses and discussion of practical religious in- 
terest, the reception of delegates from corresponding bodies, 
and attention to the objects of benevolent enterprise sus- 
tained by the churches. 

XV- Special Orders. — 1. At the opening of the 
session on the mornings of Wednesday and Thursday, the 
Moderator shall take the chair at the hour to which the Asso- 
ciation stands adjourned ; shall immediately call the mem- 
bers to order ; shall direct the roll to be called ; shall open 
the meeting with prayer, and cause the minutes of the pre- 
ceding day to be read ; and the session of each day shall be 
closed with prayer. 

2. The opening sermon shall be preached on Tuesday 
evening. Salutations of delegates from corresponding bod- 
ies (which are expected to be confined to ten minutes each) , 
and reports of delegates to such bodies, shall be heard on 
Wednesday morning. Wednesday evening shall be devoted 
to exercises having special reference to the people, of the place 
of the meeting. The sermon and Lord's Supper are assigned 
to Thursday, p.m., but may be changed to any time the 
Association may prefer. 

3. Each annual meeting shall be closed with a psalm or 
hymn and prayer. One session of the Association shall be 
devoted to the cause of Home Missions and Home Evan- 
gelization. 

XVI. Place of Meeting. — Previously to the close 
of each meeting, the General Association shall specify a 
place for meeting of the next year, and designate the Asso- 
ciation (in alphabetical order) to appoint a preacher for 
the sermon before the Lord's Supper. And the church 
of the place of meeting selected is requested to make prepa- 



RULES OP THE GENERAL ASSOCIATION. 79 

ration to celebrate the Lord's Supper in course of the 
service. The Lord's Supper shall be administered generally 
without remarks. 

XVII. Rules of Order. — 1. Every motion being 
seconded, shall, if requested by the Moderator, or any two 
members, be reduced to writing; and no motion shall be 
open to discussion until it be seconded. 

2. The Moderator may speak to points of order in prefer- 
ence to other members, rising from his seat for that pur- 
pose ; and shall decide questions of order, subject to appeal 
to the house by any two members. But he may not speak 
to the merits of the question without leaving the chair, and 
placing some other member in it while he speaks. 

3. No member shall speak more than twice on the same 
question without leave of the Association. 

4. When a question is under debate, no motion shall be 
received, except for adjournment, laving on the table, amend- 
ment, postponement, commitment, or the previous question. 
The previous question is this : Shall the main question be 
now put ? and the effect of adopting it shall be to put an 
end to debate, and to bring the Association to a direct vote 
upon amendments, if any are pending, and then upon the 
main question proper. 

5. If a question under debate contain several parts, any mem- 
ber may have it divided, and a question taken on each part. 

6. Every member, when speaking, shall address himself to 
the chair, and shall be subject to no needless interruption ; 
if he act disorderly, it shall be the duty of the Moderator, 
and the privilege of other members, to call him to order. 

7. No member shall leave the Association before the ses- 
sion is closed, except with the consent of the body; nor 
shall any leave the house during a sitting without the con- 
sent of the Moderator. 



80 PASTOR'S MANUAL. 

XVIII. Amendments. — 1. Any of the above rules, ex- 
cept the first five, may be amended at any annual session by 
a two-thirds vote, the proposed amendment having been 
submitted in writing on the day previous to that of action. 

2. Amendments to either of the first five articles shall not be 
made, except upon their proposal at the Annual Meeting next 
prior to that of action, and after notice has been sent to 
the several Associations and Conferences, and by a two- 
thirds vote. 



FORMS. 

A few brief forms are given as hints to young ministers 
who may sometimes be at a loss for proper expression, when 
those of more experience would feel no difficulty. The style 
and phraseology may be varied according to the taste and 
discretion of the writer. 



A CERTIFICATE OF APPROBATION TO PREACH THE 
GOSPEL. 

This certifies that Mr. A. B. of , , having 

passed a satisfactory examination of his qualifications for 
the gospel ministry, is hereby approbated and recommended 

as a preacher of the gospel, by the Association. 

C. D., Moderator. 

, 18—. E. F., Scribe. 

ANOTHER. 

Mr. A. B., of , having pursued a course of theologi- 
cal study, preparatory to the gospel ministry, and having, 
on examination, been found sound in faith and qualified to 



FOEMS. 81 



teach, he is hereby approbated and recommended as a 

preacher of the gospel, by the Association. 

A. B., Moderator. 
, 18—. C. D., Scribe. 

II. 

APPOINTMENT OF DELEGATES. 

At a meeting of the Association, , 18 — , it 

was voted that Revs. A. B. and C. D. be Delegates to rep- 
resent this Association at the " General Association of the 
Congregational Churches of Massachusetts," next to be 

holden at (month) ; and that Revs. E. F. and G. H. 

be their substitutes. Attest, 

, IS—. C. D., Scribe. 

III. 

LETTER OF DISMISSION. 

Rev. A. B., having requested to be dismissed from 

Association, and recommended to the Association, it 

was voted to grant his request. He is therefore dismissed, 
and cordially recommended, a brother faithful and beloved. 
In behalf of the Association, 

, 18—. A. B., Scribe. 

IV. 

A LETTER OF COMMENDATION. 

To whom it may concern : — 

The bearer, the Rev. A. B., a member of the Asso- 
ciation, who contemplates removing from this community to 
other parts, is hereby cordially commended to the confi- 
dence of the churches as sound in faith and of good report. 
By vote of the Association, 

, 18—. A. B., Scribe. 



82 PASTOR'S MANUAL. 

V. 

A LETTER OF COMMENDATION OF A CHURCH-MEMBER 
WHO WISHES TO RESIDE FOR A SHORT TIME IN 
ANOTHER PLACE. 

It should be addressed to the Pastor. 

A , Mass., , 18—.- 

To Rev. : — 

Dear Sir, — Mr. A. B., a member in regular standing in 

the Church in this place, about to remove temporarily 

to your town, is hereby cordially commended to the watch 
and fellowship of the church under your pastoral care during 
his residence among you. 

Yours in the gospel, 

A. B., Pastor. 
VI. 

A LETTER OF COMMENDATION FOR A CHURCH-MEMBER 
ON A JOURNEY. 

A. B., a member of the Church in , , in 

good standing, purposing a journey, is hereby cordially com- 
mended, as a brother beloved, to the confidence and fellow- 
ship of the churches with whom he may desire to commune. 
Grace, mercy, and peace, 

, 18—. A. B., Pastor. 



HINTS ON KEEPING A CHURCH REGISTER. 

As the pastor in many Congregational churches is ex- 
pected to keep the records, it may not be amiss to give a 
few hints on the subject in this Manual. The records in 
many cases have been very imperfectly kept, as occasion for 



KEEPING A CHURCH REGISTER. 



83 



historical research has made evident. It is desirable that old 
records and memoranda which illustrate the history of the 
older churches should be carefully preserved, copied if pos- 
sible, and indexed for easy reference. In addition to the 
record of the ordinary business, having a marginal title to 
catch the eye, there should be tables representing in con- 
densed forms the statistics of the church. 

Table I. 

LIST OF CHURCH MEMBERS. 

This should be in the order of admission, under the fol- 
lowing heads : Name, time of admission, married, age, bap- 
tized in infancy or on profession, dismissed, excluded, de- 
ceased, absent. 

Table II. 

MINISTERS. 

Name, settled, age, college and seminary, acting pastor, 
dismissed, deceased, length of service, salary. 

Tarle in. 

DEACONS. 

Name, when chosen, age, resigned, deceased. 
Table IV. 

CHURCH COMMITTEES. 

Names, when chosen, object. 



Table V. 

DELEGATES. 

Names, when chosen, to what body. 
Table VL 

BAPTISMS. 

Names, adult, infant, parents of infants. 



84 PASTOR'S MANUAL. 

Table VII. 

ATTENDANCE. 

(a.) On the sabbath, a.m., p.m. 
(b.) Preparatory Lectures, 
(c.) Prayer Meetings. 

Table VIII. 

MARRIAGES. 

Table IX. 

DEATHS. 

Table X. 

SABBATH SCHOOL. 

(a.) Superintendents: name, when chosen, time of service, 
(b.) Teachers : name, age, time of service, 
(c.) Scholars : class, teacher, names of scholars, parents, 
age, date of entry, date of leaving. 

Table XI. 

CONTRIBUTIONS. 

Date, amount, object. 

Table XII. 

FAMILIES. 

Parents, children, others. 

The Tables may be differently arranged, and increased or 
diminished in number and specifications. But it should be 
kept in mind, that what seems now to be unworthy of rec- 
ord, may prove, in the future, of inconceivable value to the 
historian. The Registrar, therefore, should not deem it 
lost time to jot down these statistics of the church. 



